Reworded, if it any point the paper could have been secretly swapped with a different stock, intentionally or unintentionally, then it is not FSC certified.
OMG now it's a paper conspiracy! Do you really read what you are typing? You are saying that because you are FSC Certified, there is no way, unintentional or intentional that you could possibly do a bait and switch with the paper. Just because your are "Certified" you are now holier than though? I would expect that you, the same as I, will keep our business practices ethical. If I need to prove a sheet to a client, I will invite them into my shop and they can watch it being loaded into the press, if they so desire.
Again no one has answered my questions, so let me put them plain and simple.
I buy Domtar Lynx, a "Certified" shop buys Domtar Lynx, both come from the same Mill, sheeted off the same roll of paper, both are "FSC Certified" have the same wrapper with the same FSC logo, who knows maybe they both came from the same tree! What makes your paper different than mine? Other than the COC is "broken" as soon as it comes off the delivery truck (BTW who really, I mean REALLY cares about the COC?) and I can't NOR do I CLAIM to be "Certified"... nothing. IT'S THE SAME PAPER!!!!
Aren't we both using the SAME product manufactured with the SAME sustainable practices?
Other than the fact that you choose to buy into the "Certification" and are now able to print a trade marked logo... nothing is different. To add in my own conspiracy... how do I know you aren't cooking the books and using some "other" paper? Oh wait, you get audited, we all know how that keeps everyone honest, just look at AIG!
Now I have a solution to the problem. Why not go one small step further. Certified companies can only buy super special certified paper with the COC, and all the fancy logo's. Using my above scenario, you would have "Lynx - Certified" and just plain Lynx. Force the mills into changing the paper specifications and their packaging and inventory control, so the rest of us who are not certified don't have the option to buy the super special paper. Of course, since there are more controls and special treatment for the super special paper, it will be more expensive. I'm sure your customers will be quick to pay what 15%, 20% more for the COC paper.