Chain of Custody certification is a mechanism for tracking certified material from the forest to the final product. This publication is intended to help companies familiarize themselves with the most essential elements of PEFC Chain of Custody certification and requirements for using the PEFC logo and labels.
Sustainable forest management, while crucial in maintaining the valuable services forests provide, does not in itself establish the link from the forest to the market. In order to give assurances that wood and wood-based products can be traced back to sustainably managed forests, PEFC promotes Chain of Custody certification.
PEFC Chain of Custody certification enables companies to identify and control their PEFC-certified material. It is a prerequisite for use of the PEFC logo and labels to promote products in the marketplace and can be used to demonstrate compliance with private and public procurement policies and guidelines that increasingly specify PEFC as proof of origin.
This brochure offers those involved in the implementation of PEFC Chain of Custody processes within companies an introduction to the key concepts. The brochure also explains the various items covered in Chain of Custody of Forest-Based Products – Guidance for Use (PEFC GD 2001:2011), Chain of Custody of Forest-Based Products – Requirements (PEFC ST 2002:2010), the PEFC Logo Usage Rules (PEFC ST 2001:2008 v2), and the PEFC Logo Usage Toolkit, Second Edition.
