This Sustainable Forest Management certification strengthens the DO Rueda cooperative’s commitment to the responsible use of natural resources, in line with its “green & social” values
La Seca, Valladolid. 8 July 2025. – Bodega Cuatro Rayas has become the first winery in Spain to obtain an international FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) promotional licence. This certification guarantees that the materials used in the winemaking and packaging process – such as paper and cardboard for packing – come from responsibly managed FSC®-certified forests and other sources that meet strict international environmental, social and economic standards. Obtaining the licence, listed as FSC® N004707, reflects Bodega Cuatro Rayas’ “green & social” philosophy – an initiative that brings together actions supporting environmental care, the circular economy, social welfare and rural development. This programme promotes sustainable practices including the use of renewable energy, responsible water use, waste reduction and the promotion of local employment.
According to its Strategic Plan, the mission of Bodega Cuatro Rayas is to improve the quality of life for its cooperative members and employees, helping to ensure generational renewal in rural areas by creating wealth and securing employment for future generations. The winery also strives to be an organisation where employees and winegrower members are actively engaged with the company and its values of social responsibility: economic transparency, ethical management, social commitment, quality, innovation and member security. Thanks to this new recognition, Bodega Cuatro Rayas reaffirms its role as a benchmark for sustainability on both the national and international wine scene, championing a winemaking approach that combines innovation, respect for the environment and social responsibility.
FSC: FORESTS FOR ALL, FOREVER
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an international non-profit organisation that has promoted environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management across the world for more than 30 years. Many everyday items come from forests – including construction materials, furniture and decoration, paper, cardboard, packaging, cork and rubber… On all of them, the tree logo and FSC acronym certify environmentally responsible sourcing and traceability. This sustainable and responsible forest management and the subsequent FSC-certified chain of custody ensure that the forest-based products reaching end consumers come from forests that are kept healthy and alive, for everyone, and forever.
According to a nationwide market research conducted by More Than Research in 2024, Spanish consumers identified FSC as the most recognised sustainability seal in its field. FSC certification now covers 162 million hectares of forest around the world and 66,000 companies with a certified chain of custody and traceability. In Spain, over 846,000 hectares of forest are FSC certified – 85,000 in Castilla y León, with an annual growth rate of 53% – and around 1,800 companies hold chain of custody certification.
