What do the different concepts mean in sustainability?
PEFC and FSC® are both chain-of-custody certification schemes with corresponding criteria focused on the origin of the raw material and there are more similarities between these certification labels than there are differences. However, there are also other ways to monitor the origin of the raw material for wood products, such as Controlled Wood and Controlled Sources. Here is a brief explanation of where these terms come from and what they mean.
Firstly: What is chain-of-custody certification?
Chain-of-custody certification from bodies such as PEFC or FSC® guarantees that the raw material used for wood products does not come from an unacceptable source. The certification shows that the raw material can be traced all the way from the forest to the point of sale.
The chain-of-custody certification guarantees that the wood:
- has not been harvested illegally
- does not violate the rights of indigenous peoples
- does not come from High Conservation Value Forests or natural forests that have been converted to plantations
- is not genetically modified.
1) What does PEFC certification mean?
The PEFC label on wood products means that all the forest-based material in them comes from a PEFC certified forest, managed in accordance with the strictest environmental, social and economic requirements. In addition to ensuring that the material comes from a certified forest, the scheme also protects workers’ rights throughout the whole production process.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is a global alliance of national forest certification systems. PEFC operates through multi-stakeholder processes with national organisations to promote responsible forest management in line with local priorities and conditions.
PEFC was founded in 1999 as a voluntary scheme to establish a certification process for small and family-owned forest owners. Since then, it has grown to become the world’s largest forest certification systems.
Holmen Wood Products (Iggesund Sawmill) has held PEFC certification since 2004. Logo licence PEFC / 05-32-55. The certification was expanded to include Braviken Sawmill in 2011, Linghem Sawmill in 2017, and Bygdsiljum and Kroksjön Sawmills and Martinsson Byggsystem in 2021.
2) What does FSC® certification mean?
The certification label of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) represents sustainable sourcing that puts forests and people first. To hold FSC® certification, an organisation must verify the sustainable sourcing of forest products and ecosystem services at every stage of the value chain, from forest to consumer.
Established in 1993 as a voluntary certification scheme for sustainable forest management, the FSC® forestry certification standard is based on ten core principles that support:
- prevention of deforestation
- protection of old and endangered forests
- fair pay and employment conditions
- preservation of biodiversity
- local community rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples
Holmen Wood Products (Iggesund Sawmill) has held FSC® certification since 2005. Logo licence FSC-C104016. The certification was expanded to include Braviken Sawmill in 2011, Linghem Sawmill in 2017, and Bygdsiljum and Kroksjön Sawmills and Martinsson Byggsystem in 2021.
3) What do we mean by Controlled Wood?
All chain-of-custody certified manufacturing companies that mix FSC® certified material with wood material of other origins must carry out a risk assessment regarding the potential presence of wood of unacceptable origin from the area where the wood is sourced.
‘Controlled Wood’ is wood that is not certified. This system allows certified products to contain a mix of certified and non-certified material, provided that the non-certified material is controlled to avoid illegally harvested wood and wood from human rights violators or forests with high conservation values.
The scheme thus allows companies to mix controlled wood with certified material in their products, helping to maintain an efficient supply chain.
Companies using controlled wood must carry out a risk assessment of the wood’s origin to ensure that it does not come from unacceptable sources.
Holmen’s wood products are covered by FSC® Controlled Wood. All raw materials and finished products that are not FSC® chain-of-custody certified are FSC® Controlled Wood.
4) What do we mean by Controlled Sources?
‘Controlled Sources’ refers to wood that is not certified, but comes from a controlled origin, or more specifically PEFC controlled sources. This is wood that has been harvested by implementing a due diligence system.
The system provides assurances that the raw material is sourced from low-risk areas and harvested in accordance with local, national or international laws and requirements regarding factors such as biodiversity, protected and endangered species, the health and working conditions of forest workers, and the rights of indigenous peoples.
Holmen’s wood products are covered by PEFC Controlled Sources. All raw materials and finished products that are not 100 per cent PEFC certified are confirmed to be from PEFC Controlled Sources.