Oliva Cigar Company announced that its cigar boxes are now produced entirely with Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified wood, making Oliva Cigar Co. the first cigar company to achieve FSC chain of custody certification. The milestone underscores Oliva’s long-term commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and social accountability across its operations. “This certification is not only about materials — it’s about a philosophy,” said Cory Bappert, CEO of Oliva Cigar Co. “It ensures that all of the wood used in our boxes comes from responsible sources that support reforestation, biodiversity, workplace safety, and fair labor standards.”
The FSC Chain of Custody certification confirms that every stage of Oliva’s box production, from sourcing to finishing, follows rigorous sustainability protocols. The achievement caps a four-year company-wide project that involved developing new manuals, training employees across all departments, and expanding staffing to ensure standards were met consistently.
Beyond certification: Daily responsibility
While certification marks a major step forward, Oliva Cigar Co. emphasizes that sustainability is an ongoing daily commitment. Each shipment of certified material must be verified, ensuring that no uncertified wood enters the production process. “The certification assessed our ability,” Bernie Rodriguez, Director of Logistics and Product Regulations, explained. “Now we are judged every day on how well we live up to it.”
A Broader Approach to Sustainability
The FSC initiative is only one part of Oliva’s broader sustainability strategy:
• Reforestation: For more than five years, Oliva Cigar Co. has operated a nursery outside of Condega, Nicaragua, growing trees and plants for reforestation projects on its farms and donating thousands of seedlings each year to schools and national programs.
• Seed Innovation: At Hacienda de Ernesto, Oliva Cigar Co. develops its own seed varieties to improve resistance and reduce pesticide use, protecting both the environment and the final product.
• Soil Management: The company has adopted advanced Cuban soil-cutting techniques to reduce disruption of natural biodiversity.
• Circular Farming: Tobacco stems, dust, and other waste are composted and reused in Oliva’s own fields, closing the loop between factory and farm.
“Sustainability is not a campaign — it’s a way of thinking,” said Fred Vandermarliere, owner of Vandermarliere Cigar Family (VCF). “At Oliva, we understand that the only way to build a lasting legacy is to grow responsibly, give back to the land, and create cigars with integrity.”
Read more about Oliva’s ongoing commitment to sustainability in CJ 3/25 page 134 to 137.
