Skip to main content
Customer Stories
Hero Image The Forest Stewardship Council and Docusign Join Forces to Simplify Operations and Empower Indigenous Communities
Non-profit

The Forest Stewardship Council and Docusign Join Forces to Simplify Operations and Empower Indigenous Communities

Solution impact

50%
Faster processing of Trademark Licensing Agreements
99%
Agreements are paperless
20
Staff hours saved per week at FSC Indigenous Foundation

Products used

Contract Lifecycle ManagementeSignature

When global leaders failed to agree on measures to stop deforestation at the 1992 Earth Summit, a new movement took root. The Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC) was born from the vision of environmentalists, businesses, and community leaders who believed in a better way to manage the world’s forests and preserve their health for generations to come. 

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, FSC provides the world’s most rigorous standards for sustainable forest management, ensuring workers’ and Indigenous Peoples’ rights are respected, wildlife and biodiversity are protected, and forests are managed with future generations in mind. 

Major brands—including IKEA, Tetra Pak, Procter & Gamble, and Lowe’s—have turned to FSC Certification to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sourcing. 

But managing such an extensive network and maintaining rigorous certification standards is no small feat. 

“Docusign is truly simplifying a massively complex administrative process for FSC,” said CIO Michael Marus.

“We're making an impact—and with Docusign's support, we're making tangible differences for our planet’s forests and the communities that depend on them."

Michael MarusChief Information Officer and Director of IT, Forest Stewardship Council

In addition to streamlining processes, Docusign, through the Docusign Foundation, provides financial support for FSC initiatives that empower Indigenous communities, protect forests, and advance sustainable forestry and ecosystem services.

"We're making an impact—and with Docusign's support, we're making tangible differences for our planet’s forests and the communities that depend on them,” said Marus.

Simplifying complex agreements with global partners

FSC’s iconic check-tree logo on products like paper goods, furniture, and packaging ensures  sustainable, responsible forest management. Keeping certification standards up to date, however, requires major logistical work. 

FSC hit a breaking point when it needed to roll out an updated Trademark License Agreement to over 60,000 companies worldwide—and FSC knew its paper-based system wasn’t going to cut it.

“Maintaining the integrity of our system is absolutely crucial, and we need modern technologies to help us do that,” said Marus. “Docusign eSignature allowed us to offer a more responsive and secure experience to our stakeholders.”

For complex agreements with partners and vendors, FSC uses Docusign CLM. CLM handles every step—from drafting and legal reviews to final approvals—all in a seamless, digital workflow. 

With centralized clause libraries, templates, and integrated eSignature, FSC’s teams can generate contracts directly from their CRM or ERP systems.

“We’ve cut processing time by over 50%, and 99% of our agreements are paperless,” said Marus. “Docusign gives us the flexibility to make changes at a moment's notice, with a complete audit trail—and it's all perfectly secure.”

Empowering Indigenous communities through digital transformation

Beyond technology, Docusign’s financial contributions through Docusign.org have backed global initiatives like the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), which works with Indigenous leaders to ensure their communities have a voice in the future of the world’s forests.

In Honduras, Docusign, USAID, and FSC-IF supported the Pech people in developing community projects focused on economic self-reliance and forest protection.

"Partnering with Docusign has created a huge impact for these communities, and we hope that projects like the one in Honduras can be replicated in other countries," said Zandra Martínez, Vice Chair of the FSC International Board of Directors.

Docusign volunteers also partnered with Venture 2 Impact to assess and digitally transform administrative processes at FSC-IF. 

Before, routine tasks like processing payments, preparing official documents, and tracking travel expenses kept staff bogged down in paperwork.

By digitizing payment and travel administrative processes alone, Docusign solutions helped FSC-IF save 20 hours every week—time the organization can now redirect toward mission-focused work.

The impact of the partnership has been felt across the entire organization, which includes more than 300 staff members in over 80 countries.

"Tools like Docusign have shown many of us who weren’t used to modern technology in our daily work just how much more effective and efficient we can be,” said Martínez.

Building a high-tech alliance for sustainable forestry

To meet modern challenges, FSC formed the Technology Consortium, which unites top tech leaders to solve complex forest management issues.

Docusign joined the consortium alongside tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Esri, lending their expertise in secure and efficient digital workflows. 

Exciting things are already underway. For example, Esri is creating a digital map of all FSC-certified forests to support conservation efforts, while Docusign is exploring blockchain technology to secure transactions and boost efficiency.

“Docusign is right there at the table helping us look at technology solutions for the future,” said Marus. “Each partner brings valuable knowledge and expertise and is eager to support organizations like FSC in tackling major bottlenecks we face.”

Related stories

Start building better agreements with Docusign

View Plans & PricingTalk to Sales
Person smiling while presenting