Wood is used to produce man-made cellulosic fibres such as viscose, lyocell and modal. For fashion and textile businesses using these materials, PEFC certification provides a framework for sourcing and tracking certified forest-based material through the supply chain.
Forest-based fibres and PEFC certification
PEFC endorses national forest certification systems that are developed through multi-stakeholder processes. Forest managers certified under a PEFC-endorsed system are independently assessed against the requirements of the applicable standard. These include environmental, social and economic aspects of forest management, with requirements relating to areas such as biodiversity and the maintenance of forest resources.
PEFC Chain of Custody certification provides an independently audited system for organisations to track PEFC-certified material through the supply chain and make PEFC claims where the relevant requirements have been met.
PEFC certification relates to the management and certified sourcing of the forest-based raw material. It does not assess the environmental performance of fibre manufacturing or certify the overall sustainability of a finished textile or garment.
How PEFC can support fashion and textile businesses
- Certified sourcing: Identify forest-based material from PEFC-certified sources.
- Chain of Custody: Track certified material through the supply chain using an independently audited system.
- Credible communication: Use PEFC claims and trademarks where the applicable certification and trademark requirements have been met.
- Supply-chain information: Support sourcing policies and provide customers with information about the certified forest-based content of products.
Understanding the wider lifecycle
The overall environmental impact of a textile depends on numerous factors, including fibre production, chemicals, energy and water use, manufacturing, transport, durability, garment care and end-of-life treatment.
PEFC certification addresses the forest management and chain-of-custody elements of forest-based sourcing. Any additional claims about carbon emissions, environmental footprint, biodegradability, recyclability or the performance of a finished product should be assessed and substantiated separately.