SFI

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program is a recognized standard in North America with participants in the U.S. and Canada. SFI is endorsed by the PEFC ‘umbrella scheme’ and may carry a SFI or PEFC label in the UK.

The Chain of Custody labels can identify the percentage of certified material from forests independently certified to the SFI Standard. The “Promoting Sustainable Forestry” label meets the UK Government requirement since it utilizes the volume credit approach. The "X" percent certified content label meets the UK Government requirement as long as it is 70% or higher.  The certified sourcing label does not meet the UK Government requirement as it does not make a certified forest content claim.

Contact:

Kathy Abusow

President & CEO
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc

900 17th Street, NW; Suite 700

Washington, DC  20006

USA

Email: kathy.abusow@sfiprogram.org

Tel: +001 (202) 596-3450

Website: http://www.sfiprogam.org

Chain of custody and product labelling

SFI has two approaches to product labelling: Certified sourcing and Chain of custody . The certified sourcing label does not make a certified forest content claim, 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).

I.  Chain of Custody Labels

The SFI program has two chain of custody  labels that show that some or all of the product’s fiber content comes from forests that are certified to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard, CSA CAN/CSA Z809 Standard, and/or the American Tree Farm System Standard. Chain-of-custody certification to SFI Requirements: Section 3 - SFI Chain-of-Custody Standard, is required before the labels can be used.

1. Chain of Custody label for volume credit calculations

Any company that is certified under the SFI chain-of-custody standard, which is an accounting system process that tracks wood fiber through the different stages of production, and is using the volume credit method can use the SFI label as shown below. Volume credit is based on the premise that you can only market or label the amount of certified forest content you have coming into your facility.  If a company has 100 tons of certified forest content, that fiber gets mixed with the other non-certified fiber in the manufacturing process.  The certified organization accounts for it in their “credit bank.”  When a certified company is ready to make claims on chain of custody, they can only sell the credits they have accumulated, in this example, 100 tons.  The other non-certified fiber is accounted for through SFI’s certified sourcing definition.    

2.  Chain of Custody labels for average percentage calculations

Any company that is certified under Section 3 - SFI Chain-of-Custody Standard, and is using the average percentage method can use either of the two labels  as shown below. The average percentage method is based on the premise that you can label and market your output as chain of custody certified.   So, for example, if the SFI certified company has 70% from certified forest content, they can label all of the output with one of the two labels below.  The company must communicate the percentage of certified forest content on the label as well as through an invoice, bill of lading, shipping documents, letters or other acceptable forms of communication. If a company is using a multi-site certification, it may take an average of the entire production batch. 

II.  Certified Sourcing Label

A certified sourcing label shows that the manufacturer’s procurement process is third-party certified to Objectives 8-20 in the SFI 2010-2014 Standard and/or is certified to Section 4 – Rules for Use of SFI On-Product Labels.

The certified sourcing label does not make claims about certified forest content, but it does show that the non-certified forest fiber is from a responsible source. In North America, program participants must have an auditable procurement process showing that, among other things, they encourage landowners to reforest areas that have been harvested, use best management practices to protect water quality and identify and protect important habitat elements for wildlife. When sourcing fiber from outside of North America, program participants must show they support the principles of sustainable forestry, including efforts to thwart illegal logging and promote conservation of biological diversity. More information is posted under SFI Fiber Sourcing Requirements.

Certified Sourcing/procurement label - Any company that is certified under the fiber sourcing requirements of the SFI 2010-2014 Standard or Section 4- Rules for Use of SFI On-Product Labels can use the certified sourcing label as shown below.

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