PEFC Chain of Custody

If you deal in wood and wood-based products, it is increasingly important to know where your materials come from. In addition, mandatory requirements are becoming more stringent and environmentally conscious consumers demand wood from well-managed forests.

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Chain of Custody (COC) certification lays out the requirements for forest-based products. It also details the minimum requirements on health, safety and labor issues.

PEFC COC covers numerous items, including logs, lumber, wooden furniture, wood pulp, paper and printed goods, packaging and even wood energy. It establishes the link between the forest and the market, tracing forest-based products from sustainable sources to the final product.

Certification confirms that wood and wood-based products can be traced to sustainably managed forests while enabling companies to identify and control their PEFC-certified materials. It is also a prerequisite for using the PEFC logo and labels to promote products.

Obtain PEFC COC certification from a trusted, independent third party

Certification follows successful completion of an audit and enables you to:

Implement and demonstrate responsible sourcing and traceability
Address supply chain health, safety and labor issues
Support consumers to make responsible purchasing decisions
Gain a competitive advantage over others in the value chain
Access markets for environmentally responsible products
Align with and benefit from one of the world’s most popular forest sourcing initiatives

Your qualified PEFC COC auditing partner

Combining our experience as the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company with decades of forestry, supply chain and sustainability expertise, we are ready to support your PEFC mission.

Our global network of forestry experts will discuss your needs and guide you through the entire PEFC COC certification process.

FAQs

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is a global, non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable forest management through independent, third-party certification.

The PEFC is an umbrella organization that endorses national forest certification systems, developed by all interested stakeholders and tailored to local priorities and conditions.

The organization works throughout the supply chain to promote good forestry practices to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are sourced respecting the highest ecological, social and ethical standards.

While sustainable forest management is essential to maintaining the valuable services forests provide, it does not establish the link between the forest and the market. PEFC Chain of Custody (COC) certification indicates that the wood and wood-based products originate from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.

All entities along the supply chain must be PEFC Chain of Custody (COC) certified. Only then are companies allowed to use the PEFC label on products and in product marketing to highlight responsible sourcing.