At the recent ‘Move to Responsible Timber Construction’event held at Timber Square, London, PEFC UK Executive Director John Kirkby outlined the new PEFC Project Sourcing Standard to delegates, explaining how this marks a significant step forward in how responsible timber procurement is verified across construction projects.
Replacing the previous Project Certification guidance document that was published in 2014, the new standard has been developed over an 18-month period by an international task force comprising PEFC technical experts, certification bodies and representatives from the construction sector. Pilot projects, including the ongoing conservation of HMS Victory by the Royal Navy Museums and a Lendlease development at Elephant Park in London, helped refine the requirements.
Unlike traditional Chain of Custody certification, which tracks individual timber products through the supply chain, the Project Sourcing Standard applies to timber elements that are sourced and used within parts of specific buildings and entire construction projects.
It provides a practical management system that enables developers, contractors and project teams, to demonstrate that timber specified within a project has been sourced from PEFC-certified or PEFC-controlled sources, with full traceability using independent, third-party audited procurement procedures.
“A key objective was to replace the outdated guidance with a dedicated, normative standard that delivers consistency across all markets,” said John. “Previously, different nations and certification bodies often interpreted project certification requirements in different ways. The revised standard establishes a common approach to auditing, certification and project management, making the process far more straightforward for organisations to understand in the UK and internationally.”
The move is expected to make certification more practical for developers, contractors and project teams, while supporting wider sustainability ambitions across the built environment. The new framework has also been written using construction terminology rather than forestry language, making it considerably more accessible for contractors, developers and project managers who may be unfamiliar with traditional Chain of Custody requirements.
“One of the most significant changes is its flexibility, adds John. “The standard can be applied to newbuild developments, refurbishment projects, heritage conservation – as in the ongoing work at HMS Victory – infrastructure and all manner of public or private sector schemes. Certification can cover either an individual project or operate as a continuous certification programme, allowing organisations managing multiple projects to bring them under a single management system.”
Greater flexibility around material sourcing has been introduced. While PEFC-certified timber remains the core requirement, projects can now include a proportion of timber certified under other recognised forest certification schemes, provided they meet PEFC’s requirements regarding controversial sources. Timber from controlled sources may also be incorporated following robust due diligence procedures. As with PEFC’s chain of custody standard, there is also scope for recycled material to be included within the scope of a certified project.
To achieve certification, at least 70% of the timber within the defined project scope must comprise PEFC certified material, while each individual installed components (e.g. CLT, roof trusses, windows, doors etc.) must also contain a minimum of 70% certified content made up from PEFC certified material and/or material supplied under another qualifying certification scheme. This provides project teams with greater procurement flexibility while maintaining a high threshold for responsible sourcing in line with commonly used overarching green building standards such as BREEAM and LEED.
Another notable development concerns communications. Under previous arrangements, organisations could only use PEFC trademarks after project completion and the award of certification. The new standard allows certified projects to communicate their responsible sourcing credentials from the beginning of construction, following the initial certification audit. This enables PEFC branding to appear on site hoardings, project literature, sustainability reports and digital communications throughout the construction programme – a clear signal of responsible sourcing from the outset.
Trademark licences can now transfer from the contractor to the building owner once the project is completed, ensuring the project’s sustainability credentials remain associated with the completed asset throughout its operational life. The standard also establishes a permanent public record of certified projects. Once certified, projects will be registered on the PEFC database and remain listed after completion, creating greater transparency for clients, investors and stakeholders.
“As demand grows for independently verified environmental credentials, the introduction of the new Project Sourcing standard provides the construction sector with a far more practical, straightforward and internationally consistent framework for demonstrating responsible timber procurement,” says John.
With increasing emphasis on embodied carbon, sustainable sourcing and ESG reporting, the standard is likely to become an increasingly important tool for developers, contractors and clients seeking credible evidence of responsible timber and forest product use across the built environment.
Timber Square has achieved Project Certification Standard status and was awarded its final certificate on 25th June 2026 Click here to find the new Project Sourcing Standard and further information or watch video below to learn more.