Certification of the flow of wood offers several advantages to the wood processing and treating industry, the suppliers and buyers, as well as to wholesale and retail businesses:
- You will be listed in the Purchasing Guide as well as on the homepage of the international umbrella organization PEFC.
- You can improve access to the market: as surveys show, customers are increasingly demanding wood and wood products that can be profen to come from certified forests.
- You can demonstrate your sense of responsibility and commitment for the environment in line with sustainable development.
- You can use certification as a tool for risk prevention (“worry-free consumption”).
- You can enhance the image of the wood sector.
- You can use PEFC certification as risk mitigation tool in your due diligence process for the new EU Regulation 2023/115 on deforestation-free supply chains.
- By using the logo, you signal higher acceptance and credibility with customers who value proof of origin.
PEFC – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes – is the label for wood and paper products from ecologically, economically and socially sustainable forest management along the entire processing chain. For customers, PEFC is confirmation that the purchase of a labeled product guarantees and supports environmentally friendly forest management.
The Chain of Custody (CoC) certification verifies the entire processing chain: this ensures that the product, from the forest to the final product, has been monitored according to strict criteria. This proof is provided by companies that process wood or trade wood products and is regularly checked by independent bodies.
PEFC stands for sustainability, credibility and safe supply.
- Sustainability: PEFC is the world‘s leading certification for promoting, safeguarding and marketing active, sustainable and climate-friendly forest management. Wood and wood products with the PEFC seal are proven to originate from ecologically, economically and socially sustainable forestry.
- Credibility: At PEFC, independence of the certification bodies is particularly guaranteed by accreditation according to international standards. PEFC furnishes uninterrupted and binding evidence of sustainable use of resources, upon which each consumer can rely.
- Safe supply: PEFC ensures a secure supply of certified wood in Central Europe. It enables all forest owners, regardless of company size as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the supply chain to participate at relatively low cost. This makes PEFC a global leader and guarantees wood from sustainably managed forests.
- Sustainable procurement: By purchasing PEFC-certified products, you are also supporting sustainable forest management in your region.
Among other things, the following aspects will be considered in the audit:
- Responsibility and organization
- Definition of product groups
- Implementation of due diligence incl. Risk assessment of suppliers and supply chains
- Proof of training
- Accounting of certified products
- Auditing and control
- Usage of the logo
- Documentation
- Sawing and planing mills
- Wood processing industry
- Building joiners and cabinet makers
- Carpenters
- Wood trade
- Paper industry and trade
- Printshops and publishing houses
The way to the Certificate and logo
- Quality Austria is asked for a certification of the „Chain of Custody“
- Quality Austria sends information and a data sheet, which serves to inquire all the data necessary for certification
- An application form, information on preparation within the company and a specific offer are sent
- A preliminary talk is held in order to clarify the system requirements and prepare the Certification Audit
- Upon completion of the preparations within the company and after documentation has been sent to Quality Austria for purposes of the preliminary review, the Certification Audit will be conducted on site
- If necessary, required changes will be sent to Quality Austria (depending on the audit result)
- Upon positive review and assessment, a certification report as well as a certificate will be issued (valid for five years)
- Compliance with the requirements relating to the „Chain of Custody” will be reviewed every year
- Upon expiry of the certificate, prolongation for another period will be possible
- Use of the PEFC Logo will be applied for at PEFC Austria on the basis of the valid certificate (on a voluntary basis)
The qualityaustria audit achievments result on the basis of the accreditation austria. With PEFC Austria has been made a notification agreement.
ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EMAS, Sustainability Reports, Austria Quality Seal products, ISO 38200
Contact
Network partner
Team
Mr. Werner Zwingmann
Business Development Environment and Energy, CSR, sustainable supply chains
