Certifications for Forestry Operations

NSF is one of only a few certification bodies accredited to conduct audits to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and American Tree Farm System® (ATFS®) standards. We also provide integrated SFI and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) audits that can save time, money and resources.

NSF Certification, LLC (FSC-N003091) delivers FSC certification services in association with Soil Association Certification Ltd. (FSC-A000525).

Forest management standards balance commercial values with preserving forest health and diversity.

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI 2022 Standards and Rules, Section 2)
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS 2021) certification for small family forest landowners in the U.S.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification (delivering FSC certification services (FSC-N003091) in association with Soil Association Certification Ltd., FSC-A000525)

In addition to protecting the environment, forestry certification through NSF provides:

• Brand protection through competitive differentiation and a demonstrated commitment to social responsibility
• Preferred vendor status with customers seeking more sustainable solutions
• Recognized sustainable management of your forest lands for future generations
• New sources of SFI, ATFS, PEFC or FSC certified wood or maintenance of existing sources as end users shift to requiring certification

Certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 2022 Standards and Rules Fiber Sourcing (Section 3) verifies your organization is sourcing raw material in your supply chain from legal and responsibly-managed sources.

It also demonstrates your commitment to support reforestation, protect soil and water quality, and encourage environmentally sound practices.

Chain of custody is a system of tracking fiber from certified forest content through manufacturing to end product. Any organization that processes or trades certified forest products — including manufacturers of paper and wood-based products, converters, printers, wood dealers, wholesalers and brokers — can seek certification to:

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2022 Standards and Rules, Section 4: Chain of Custody Standard
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC ST) 2002:2020
• Forest Stewardship Council certification (delivering certification services (FSC®-N003091) in association with the Soil Association Certification Ltd. (FSC-A000525,) which can be combined with SFI and/or PEFC certification from NSF)

In addition to protecting the environment, chain of custody certification provides:

• New distribution channels with manufacturers or retailers that require certified materials
• Access to international markets through mutual recognition programs (PEFC)
• Preferred vendor status with customers seeking more sustainable solutions
• Certification marks that link your product or organization to more sustainable forests

SFI 2022 Standards and Rules, Section 5: Certified Sourcing Standard

Consolidating your forestry services, or switching them to NSF, is a seamless process. Our professional staff and auditors provide reliable answers and interpretations backed by years of industry experience. Our services help determine trends and identify opportunities for improvement.