Introduction to the study

Due to large number of certified companies in Croatia, and an ongoing positive trend, this research took a sample of 60 companies (30 certified and 30 non-certified) from the wood processing (code C16 according to the national classification of trade) and furniture (code C31 according to the national classification of trade) sectors and compared them based on five indicators of economy and profitability (EBIT, EU, ROA, ROE, ROS). Indicators were considered for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Note: At the time of this research (2017), there were 262 FSC CoC certificate holders in Croatia. Since the research was published, the number of certified companies grew by 32% to 347. 

Results

The results of the analysis of the observed indicators in the wood industry in the period from 2014 to 2016 indicate better and more stable operations of companies that are holders of the FSC CoC certificate in Croatia. When 30 certified companies are directly compared to 30 non-certified companies, we can see that 4 out of 5 indicators point out to a more successful business of FSC-certified companies.

  1. indicator: Earnings Before Interest and Taxes

    Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) is an indicator of a company's profitability. EBIT can be calculated as revenue minus expenses excluding tax and interest.

    In the period from 2014 to 2016 it was noticed that in 2014 the values of all companies with FSC certification in all sectors of activity were much higher than the values companies without a certificate, in the period from 2015, these values were equal, but again in 2016 a small difference was seen, in which companies with a certificate again had higher values. 

    Sector

    C16 Wood processing sector

    C31 Furniture sector

    C16 + C31

    EBIT

    Better indicator: certified companies

    Better indicator: non-certified companies 

    Better indicator: certified companies

  2. indicator: Business Efficiency

    Business efficiency (EU) is calculated by comparing sales revenue and sales expenses. When sales revenues are higher than sales expenses, the business efficiency is positive. The general rule for the value of this indicator implies that it is better for the economy coefficient to be as large a number as possible.

    In the period from 2014 to 2016 it can be seen in 2014 all values of the observed financial indicator of companies without a certificate are higher than companies with a certificate. In 2015, there was an increase in the EU value of companies with a certificate, and this increase can also be seen in 2016, in which the values of companies with a certificate are visibly higher than companies without a certificate in all sectors of activity.

    Sector

    C16 Wood processing sector

    C31 Furniture sector

    C16 + C31

    EU

    Better indicator: certified companies 

    Better indicator: non-certified companies 

    Better indicator: certified companies

  3. indicator: Return on Assets

    Return on assets (ROA) is an indicator of the success of using assets in generating profit. This indicator shows the intensity of the company's assets. Capital-intensive industries such as wood sector industries require expensive equipment and machinery and thus have a high degree of asset intensity.

    In the initial period companies without certificates in the furniture sector have a higher value than certified companies from the same sector, while throughout the rest of the periods the values of certified companies tend to increase. In the period from 2015 to 2016, the values of all certified companies across all sectors of activity have higher values than non-certified companies.

    Sector

    C16 Wood processing sector

    C31 Furniture sector

    C16 + C31

    ROA

    Better indicator: certified companies

    Better indicator: certified companies

    Better indicator: certified companies

  4. indicator: Return on Equity

    Return on equity (ROE) is the measure of a company's net income divided by its shareholders' equity. ROE is a gauge of a corporation's profitability and how efficiently it generates those profits.

    During the period from 2014 to 2016, in most activities, certified companies had a higher rate of capital return than non-certified companies, except in the furniture sector, where in the period from 2014 to 2015 non-certified companies still had a slight advantage, but in 2016 year that value goes to the side of the certified companies.

    Sector

    C16 Wood processing sector

    C31 Furniture sector

    C16 + C31

    ROE

    Better indicator: certified companies 

    Better indicator: certified companies 

    Better indicator: certified companies 

  5. indicator: Return on Sales

    Return on sales (ROS) is a ratio used to evaluate a company's operational efficiency. This measure provides insight into how much profit is being produced per dollar of sales. 

    In the period from 2014 to 2016, it is evident that non-certified companies in most sectors have higher values than certified companies, except in sector wood processing sector where certified companies have a better value throughout all periods.

    Sector

    C16 Wood processing sector

    C31 Furniture sector

    C16 + C31

    ROS

    Better indicator: certified companies 

    Better indicator: non-certified companies 

    Better indicator: non-certified companies 

Conclusion

C31 C16By means of comparisons, it can be concluded that in the wood processing sector (C16), the best and most stable indicators always have companies that are FSC-certified. Such a result tells us about the great importance of FSC certification in wood processing sector where most of the companies that are certified deal with primary processing. Since the publication of this study, the number of FSC-certified companies from wood processing sector increased by 14% (280 companies in 2022).

On the other side, the results for the furniture sector are less evident. Since its publication in 2017 however, the number of FSC-certified companies in the furniture sector in Croatia has grown by 20% (94 certificate holders in 2022). This relevant increase speaks in favour of the value of FSC certification for the Croatian furniture sector.

Credits

This online article presents the published scientific research under the name: "The Role of FSC Chain of Custody Certification on Business Performance in Wood Industry" authored by Filip Mlinac, published in 2017.

The study was not financed by FSC. Please access the original study on the link below.