What is forest certification?
Forest certification is a well-established tool to ensure that responsible forest management practices are implemented in the forest, and that wood from certified forests can be identified throughout the supply chain. Certification systems, like FSC and PEFC (incl. SFI) establish specific forest management, woodfibre sourcing, Chain of Custody tracking and marketing requirements for certified organisations; provide a framework for third-party auditing; and govern the use of promotional and product claims.
Why is forest certification important?
Certification enables conscious consumers to choose responsibly sourced wood-based products. It gives consumers the assurance that the woodfibre used to manufacture the products they are buying has been legally harvested in accordance with sound environmental practices, and that social aspects, such as indigenous rights, have been taken into account. Forest certification and other voluntary codes of conduct are key tools for promoting sustainable consumption and production, and for combating deforestation, forest degradation and illegal logging by providing proof of legality and responsible management, harvesting and manufacturing practices.
To fully understand the fundamental importance of global, credible forest certification systems coupled with rigorous tracing practices, we need to understand the value and state of the world’s forests. The sale of illegally or unsustainably harvested timber contributes to the loss of biodiversity, degraded watersheds, unhealthy forests subject to destruction from wildfires or pests and pathogens, and deforestation, not to mention the possibility of unsafe working conditions and civil/traditional rights conflicts. Deforestation leads to biodiversity losses and increased greenhouse gas emissions, as forests capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air during the process of photosynthesis and store it in their leaves, wood, roots and soils, acting as ‘carbon sinks’. After the oceans, forests contain the world’s second-largest stores of CO2.
Forest certification’s positive impact on the world’s forests is a result of the improved forest management practices in certified forests coupled with the stringent sourcing and due diligence requirements for non-certified woodfibre inputs. Certificate holders must ensure that all non-certified woodfibre inputs mixed with certified material are from controlled, non-controversial sources. This means that the impact of forest certification extends far beyond the certified forests. Additionally, forest certification requires certificate holders to implement procedures to track and trace the origin of the wood, which is necessary to drive change and support sustainable and transparent supply chains.
Fast facts about forest certification with Sappi
- We recognise credible third-party forest certification systems including the FSC™, PEFC, SFI® and other PEFC-endorsed systems.
- Forest certification provides assurance that our products originate from responsibly-managed forests.
- All our mills are Chain of Custody certified.
- We require suppliers to provide evidence that all woodfibre is sourced from controlled, non-controversial sources.
- Sappi’s timber plantations in South Africa are both FSC and PEFC certified.
- Knowing the origin of wood is a fundamental prerequisite to ensure responsible sourcing.
- Our global goal to increase certified fibre supplied to our mills is supported by regional targets.
- We promote the increased use of certified woodfibre throughout our supply and value chains.
How does forest certification work?
Forest certification systems encompass three separate, yet closely interlinked, focus areas, each requiring annual, independent, third-party assessments of compliance to pre-determined standards.
Forest Management (FM)
Forest Management (FM) certification is a process for verifying the compliance of forest management practices with standards and criteria for responsible forest management. Forest landowners/managers wishing to promote their forests as responsibly-managed and their forest products as responsibly-harvested in compliance with one of the certification standards, must achieve and maintain FM certificate(s).
Chain of Custody (CoC)
Chain of Custody (CoC) certification is a mechanism for tracing certified woodfibre from the forest to the final product. CoC certification empowers consumers to make responsible purchasing decisions by providing assurance that the fibre in a product about which a claim is being made can be linked back to a certified forest. Manufacturing sites that purchase certified woodfibre and sell forest-based products with certification claims must achieve and maintain CoC certifications. Forest certification claims are only valid if each link in the chain is certified. For a final product to qualify for CoC claims, all entities who take legal ownership of the material/product along the supply chain must be CoC-certified to ensure an unbroken chain from the certified forest to the final certified wood-based products.
Fibre Sourcing / Controlled Wood
Fibre Sourcing / Controlled Wood certification ensures avoidance of controversial/unacceptable sources for fibre mixed with certified content. Procurement and manufacturing companies that mix certified and non-certified fibre must implement Due Diligence System (DDS) procedures to assess geographic and supply-chain risk. (Note, in the case of PEFC this is part of the CoC standard.) Product that is not sold with CoC claims may be eligible for verified responsible sourcing claims under a SFI Fiber Sourcing and/or FSC Controlled Wood.
Forest certification standards establish a common “language” by establishing core criteria and indicators that address long-term sustainability; these standards, in turn, underpin a consistent global governance structure. Forest certification requires forest management and procurement operations to be in compliance with all applicable laws/regulations, with a primary focus on ensuring wood is harvested in accordance with sound environmental practices. This includes a focus on sustained yield (growth minus removals), forest health, regeneration, conservation of biological diversity, soil and water protection, invasive species management, etc.
Forest certification standards are periodically revised via transparent and inclusive processes to incorporate best-available scientific research and understanding of emerging issues. Certificate holders are required to undergo annual audits conducted by independent, third-party accredited certification bodies to measure and verify conformance to the standard(s). Successful completion of audits enables certificate holders to sell certified products in the marketplace with verified claims of responsible forest management, sourcing and/or chain of custody tracking.
Forest certification provides assurance to our customers that the woodfibre used for our products originates from responsibly-managed forests. It underpins our commitment to continuous improvement, our focus on being an environmentally responsible company operating according to the principles of sustainable forest management, and our efforts to provide our customers with products made with woodfibre that is responsibly sourced, originating from controlled, non-controversial sources.
Sappi and our suppliers understand that healthy, robust, well-managed forests support community well-being, provide a haven for wildlife, promote biodiversity, protect watersheds by providing clean water and conserving soil resources, and play a critical role in the carbon sequestration cycle. We view responsible sourcing of fibre as critical to create value in standing forests, promoting the regeneration necessary to keep forests thriving and avoid conversion of forests to other uses.
We use the following leading global certification systems:
- The Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™ N003159)
- The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/01-44-43)
- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), and other PEFC-endorsed systems
Sappi promotes the increased use of certified woodfibre throughout our supply and value chains, and works with credible, internationally recognised, robust systems, which give equal assurance of the origin of woodfibre and responsible forest management practices. Our goal is to offer our customers a wide basket of products that are certified by at least one independent third-party verified, credible system.
Sappi’s mills are well-positioned to offer certified products to our customers. All Sappi mills in Europe, the United States, and Canada are dual-certified to both PEFC and FSC CoC and Controlled Wood standards. Sappi’s mills in South Africa are FSC CoCcertified and with the exception of Stanger Mill and Lomati Sawmill also PEFC CoC certified.
Globally, only about 10% of the world’s forests are certified. Despite all the tangible benefits of forest certification and positive impact on forest management and sourcing practices, it is important to recognise that Forest Certification may not be the “right tool in the toolbox” for all landowners and scenarios. Forest certification is complex, expensive, and at times not financially viable or operationally practical for small private forest landowners, farmers and/or community growers.
Although the countries in which Sappi operates maintain a comparatively high share of certification, the high level of private ownership and the number of smallholders in Sappi’s supply chains make it challenging to achieve 100% certified fibre. Given the limited availability of certified woodfibre, nearly all supply chains use a blend of certified and uncertified fibre. To maintain the highest levels of assurance, forest certification systems instituted additional control measures for fibre from uncertified lands to ensure avoidance of controversial sources.
Globally, all wood and pulp sourced for Sappi meets the requirements of the FSC Controlled Wood standard at a minimum. There are five categories of unacceptable woodfibre that cannot be mixed with our materials:
- Illegally harvested wood
- Wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights
- Wood harvested from forests in which high conservation values are threatened by management activities
- Wood harvested from areas being converted from forests to plantations or non-forest use
- Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted
SFI also has a separate Fibre Sourcing Standard. For Sappi North America’s U.S.-based paper and packaging mills, all wood and pulp purchases must also meet this standard, which has additional requirements beyond avoiding controversial sources. These requirements include landowner outreach, use of qualified resources and qualified logging professionals, investment in forest research, as well as adherence to best management practices.
Knowing the origin of woodfibre is a fundamental prerequisite for responsible woodfibre sourcing. We have rigorous tracing practices in place regarding the documentation of the origin of woodfibre. In addition, suppliers have to provide evidence that all woodfibre is sourced from controlled, non-controversial sources in accordance with the FSC Controlled Wood Standard, as well as PEFC (and SFI in the United States) risk-based due diligence system(s). All suppliers are requested to provide wood origin information (country of harvest and, where applicable, sub-national region and/or concession of harvest) and a list of tree species at least annually and/or upon request. Based on the data, Sappi prepares mill-specific Wood Origin Declarations which are available for all interested stakeholders.
We neither harvest nor buy woodfibre which originates from tropical natural forests and our wood sourcing causes zero deforestation. Our commitment to zero deforestation means knowing the source of woodfibre and ensuring that suppliers implement practices to promptly regenerate forests post-harvest, which is required under the global forest certification standards that Sappi is committed to upholding. All products manufactured and distributed (or sold) by Sappi are compliant with the U.S. Lacey Act and European Timber Regulations (EUTR).
Related Resources
At Sappi, we seek out only the most credible third-party certification standards and affiliations.
What is forest certification?
Forest certification is a well-established and important tool which enables conscious consumers to choose responsibly-sourced wood-based products. For Sappi North America, forest certification provides assurances to our consumers that the wood fiber used to manufacture our products originates from responsibly managed forests and has been legally harvested in accordance with sound environmental practices, and that social aspects such as indigenous rights have been taken into account. Forest certification underpins our commitment to continuous improvement, our focus on being an environmentally responsible company operating according to the principles of sustainable forest management and our efforts to provide our customers with products that are responsibly sourced.
The leading global forestry certification systems recognize that sustainably-managed forests make vital contributions to society by providing economic, environmental and social benefits indispensable to our quality of life. These certification systems ensure that responsible forest management practices are implemented in the forest and that wood fiber from certified forests can be identified throughout the supply chain. Certification systems establish specific wood fiber sourcing, production and marketing requirements for certified organizations; provide a framework for third-party annual auditing by accredited certification bodies; and govern the use of promotional and product claims and logos.
As is the case with many consumer products, multiple certification systems exist for forest products, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) program, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). A certificate from one of these systems indicates conformance to the certification standards, thereby assuring that woodfiber used in the products originates from well-managed forests.
CoC certification is a mechanism for tracking certified material from the forest to the final product. CoC certification helps to ensure and demonstrate responsible sourcing; and helps consumers to make responsible purchasing decisions. CoC claims are only valid if each link in the chain is certified. For a final product to qualify for CoC claims, all entities who take legal ownership of the material/product along the supply chain must be CoC-certified to ensure an unbroken chain from the certified forest to the final certified wood-based products. Independent third-party accredited certification bodies conduct CoC audits to verify that an entity’s wood flow accounting system conforms to applicable forest certification systems’ CoC standards. For more information, please refer to Sappi’s Forest Certification FAQ.
Sappi’s Commitment to Forest Certifications
At Sappi, we seek out only the most credible third-party certification standards and affiliations.
All of Sappi North America's mills are certified in accordance with the leading global sustainable forestry chain of custody (CoC) certification systems. Our Cloquet, Somerset, Westbrook and Matane Mills are FSC® (FSC-C014955) and PEFC (PEFC/29-31-10) CoC certified. Sappi North America's U.S.-based paper and packaging Cloquet and Somerset mills are also certified to the SFI® CoC standard and the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard for wood procurement operations. We are proud to be associated with these organizations and their efforts to drive sustainable business practices. We promote the increased use of certified woodfibre throughout our supply and value chains, and work with credible, internationally recognized, robust systems described above, which give equal assurance of the origin of woodfibre and responsible forest management practices. Our goal is to offer our customers a wide basket of products that are certified by at least one independent third-party credible system.
In addition, all products manufactured and distributed (or sold) by Sappi North America are compliant with the Lacey Act. For more information, please refer to Sappi’s 'Our certifications' FAQ.
Sappi North America’s Fiber Sourcing Practices
Since Sappi does not own any forests in North America, we are fully dependent on outside suppliers for wood. Using third party programs helps to assure Sappi and our customers that our wood suppliers are adhering to responsible forestry practices. However, only about 11% of the world’s forests are certified and certification is expensive and at times not financially viable for small farmers and private forest landowners in our supply chains. Therefore, Sappi implements rigorous tracing practices to confirm and document the origin of wood fiber. In addition, suppliers must provide evidence that all wood fiber is sourced from controlled, non-controversial sources. Sappi does not use woodfibre from endangered tropical forests.
Globally, all wood and pulp sourced for Sappi meet the requirements of the FSC Controlled Wood standard at a minimum. There are five categories of unacceptable wood fiber that cannot be mixed with our materials:
- Illegally harvested wood;
- Wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights;
- Wood harvested in forests in which high conservation values (HCVs) are threatened by management activities;
- Wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or nonforest use; and
- Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted.
For Sappi’s U.S.-based paper and packaging mills, all wood and pulp purchases must also meet the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard which has additional requirements beyond avoiding controversial sources. These requirements include landowner outreach; use of qualified resource and qualified logging professionals; investment in forest research; as well as adherence to best management practices.
To learn more, please visit Sappi North America's Sustainable Forestry page, Sappi Limited’s Woodfibre Procurement Policy, and Sappi’s Why Forests Matter FAQ.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). Established in 1994 by an international group of timber users, traders and representatives from human rights and environmental organizations, the FSC is a non-profit entity that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. This was achieved through the creation of an auditing system to inspect and verify that a forest was operated in accordance with FSC standards. FSC independently tracks, traces and identifies wood fibers from the forest through every step of the procurement, manufacturing and printing process, confirming that each supplier in the chain follows rigorous controls, management and reporting practices.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). Established in 1994 by an international group of timber users, traders and representatives from human rights and environmental organizations, the FSC is a non-profit entity that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. This was achieved through the creation of an auditing system to inspect and verify that a forest was operated in accordance with FSC standards. FSC independently tracks, traces and identifies wood fibers from the forest through every step of the procurement, manufacturing and printing process, confirming that each supplier in the chain follows rigorous controls, management and reporting practices.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. Established in 1999 by small family forest owners from Europe, PEFC is comprised of a global alliance of national forest certification systems and is the largest forest certification system in the world. PEFC endorses national forest certification systems developed through multi-stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions that meet specific global criteria. PEFC believes that forest certification needs to be local; this is why PEFC chooses to work with national organizations to advance responsible forestry. PEFC provides forest owners, from the large to the small, with a tool to demonstrate their responsible practices, while empowering consumers and companies to buy sustainably. By recognizing and endorsing more than 39 certification systems globally, including the SFI program and the Canadian Standards Association, PEFC has developed a system of mutually recognized certifications where similar rules and standards are shared and implemented globally.
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS®) is a program designed to sustain forests, watershed and healthy habitats through private stewardship. Currently, ATFS is a network of 74,000 family forest owners sustainably managing 20.5 million acres of forestland in 44 states. Administered by the American Forest Foundation, ATFS is the largest and oldest sustainable woodland system in the United States. For 75 years, ATFS has enhanced the quality of America’s woodlands by giving forest owners the tools they need to keep their forests healthy and productive. Stemming the loss of America’s woodlands is vital to our country’s clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational activities, and producing the jobs, wood and paper products we all need. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) certification program is internationally endorsed by PEFC.
Management System Certifications
In addition to forest stewardship certifications, Sappi’s Cloquet, Somerset and Westbrook Mills are certified to the following management system standards that help ensure stewardship across aspects critical to our customers, employees, and communities:
- ISO 9001 Quality Management
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management
- ISO 22000 Food Safety Management (Somerset Mill only)
- ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management
Sappi Global Certification Library
Search for and download specific certificates of interest in our global certification library.
Product Safety and Compliance
Our focus on health and safety extends to the design of our products. We are happy to provide customers with product safety data sheets and compliance statements that address a range of topics, including:
- Allergens
- California Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986)
- Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA) – limits on lead and phthalates
- FDA Compliance - Proto®, Proto Litho®, LusterBag®, LusterCote®, LusterFSB®, LusterPlate®, and Spectro® are compliant for contact with food in certain applications. Please contact your Sappi representative for product-specific FDA compliance and product safety statements.
- Heavy metals and conflict minerals (CONEG, Model Toxics in Packaging, European Council 94/62/EC, Dodd-Frank Act)
- Lacey Act – bans commerce in illegally sourced plants or products made with them.
- REACH European Commission regulation (Regulation, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals)
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
For More Information
For questions about these statements or for more information, click here to contact a Sappi representative.
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Sappi promotes an inclusive approach to forestry certification and educates customers and end-users on the value that certification brings. Certification provides assurances that our wood fiber is sourced from well-managed forests, through sustainable forestry practices to ensure that biodiversity, soil and water quality, forest health and the needs of local communities are met for current and future generations. Forestry is an art and a science that involves management of the forest and people in order to achieve balanced objectives.
Rebecca Barnard, Manager, Forestry Certification
Sappi Certifications
Our Cloquet, Somerset, Westbrook and Matane Mills are FSC® (FSC-C014955) and PEFC (PEFC/29-31-10) CoC certified. Our Cloquet and Somerset mills are also certified to the SFI® CoC standard and the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard for wood procurement operations.