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SFI

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program is a recognized standard in North America with participants in the U.S. and Canada. SFI is now endorsed by the PEFC ‘umbrella scheme’ and will normally be labelled as such in the UK.

The SFI program was adopted by American Forest & Papaer Association (AFP&A) in 1994. The SFI Program is overseen by the Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB), two-thirds of which come from a wide range of non-industry interests, including environmental/conservation organizations; public officials (state and/or federal agencies); professional/academic groups; logging professional; non-industrial landowners.

Contact

Kathy Abusow

President & CEO
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc
1600 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 810
Arlington, Virginia VA22209
USA

Email: kathy.abusow@sfiprogram.org
Tel: +001 703 875 9500 Ext 25
+001 703 875 9510
Website: http://www.sfiprogam.org

Chain of custody and product labelling

SFI has two approaches to product labelling: Procurement system and Chain of custody . The procurement system certification does not provide any information on the proportion of certified materials, therefore those wishing to use the SFI on-product label must maintain evidence 100% of its primary sources are independently third-party certified sources (confirmed by a qualified independent third party to be sourced, which is Category B evidence).

For 100% content claims, the physical separation method must be used (a Chain of Custody approach). These 100% content labels do not state the percentage content, but carry the associated statement 'From forests independently certified to the SFI standard').

The label can refer to a:

'Participating Manufacturer'
'Participating Printer'
'Participating Publisher'
'Participating Retailer'
'Certified Participant'

For claims <100%, the calculation of certified content is based on total flow or supply of primary sources (by weight) for a single manufacturing unit using either a rolling four-quarter average or the most recent full calendar year’s consumption.

Requires X% of product content to come from SFI certified forests (this does not include the American Tree Farm System), for labels to display an X% claim.

The label can refer to a:

'Participating Manufacturer'
'Participating Printer'
'Participating Publisher'
'Participating Retailer'
'Certified Participant'

Certified Manufacturer

Evidence of legality

NOT evidence of sustainabilty

Products marked with the SFI logo accompanied by the statement 'Participating Manufacturer', 'Participating Printer', 'Participating Retailer', 'Participating Publsiher' or 'Certified Participant'.

Unlike the 100% content labels, these DO NOT contain the statement 'From forestsindependently certified...'

These logos are often stamped on products (rather than as paper labels)

The "Fiber Sourcing" on-product label does not meet the UK Government's criteria for legal and sustainable because it does not make a content claim.

The Chain of Custody approach can identify the percentage of certified material from forests independently certified to the SFI Standard. The 100% certified content label meets the UK Government requirement.The "X" percent certified content label meets the UK Government requirement as long as it is 70% or higher.