PEFC - your partner for the EUDR

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PEFC, committed to deforestation-free

At PEFC, we have a longstanding commitment to halting deforestation through the promotion of sustainable forest management and products that do not contribute to forest loss. We are committed to continuing this work and strongly support the objectives of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR). 

While our standards were already well positioned to meet many key elements of the EUDR, we worked intensively to align them more closely with EUDR requirements. PEFC chain of custody certified companies can already benefit from the new PEFC EUDR DDS module to help them demonstrate their compliance with the EUDR. PEFC certified forest owners will soon be able to benefit from our practical solutions to enable them to successfully implement EUDR.

At PEFC, we take a holistic approach in how we manage our forests sustainably. PEFC certification takes into account numerous environmental, social and economic considerations, while at the same time addressing the EUDR's key focus - deforestation and legality of wood.

What is EUDR?

The EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), which entered into force on 29 June 2023, aims to decrease the production and consumption of commodities and derived products linked to deforestation and forest degradation entering or leaving the EU market.

By imposing strict requirements on operators and traders, it builds on the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) for wood products. The EUDR requires companies to exercise due diligence for their products, which must be legally produced and deforestation-free – this means not produced on land that has been subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020. 

The EUDR covers a wide range of timber products, including sawn timber, wood-based materials, paper, and furniture, as well as rubber. The EUDR also applies to palm oil, soy, coffee, cacao, and beef.

Demonstrate your EUDR compliance

The PEFC EUDR Due Diligence System (DDS) is designed to support PEFC chain of custody certified companies in demonstrating their compliance with the EUDR. It can be used by any organisation within the supply chain, no matter where the organisation is based or what their EUDR obligations are. 

  • Organisations that place forest and tree-based material or products on the EU market or export from it.
  • Organisations based outside the EU that do not directly place forest and tree-based material or products on the EU market or export from it, but the material or products will finally be placed on or exported from the EU market.

Why the PEFC EUDR DDS is the right choice for your business

Simplified implementation: The PEFC EUDR DDS simplifies complex EUDR requirements by translating them into clear, understandable steps, using the familiar language of the PEFC Chain of Custody standard.

Demonstrate your EUDR readiness: Implementing the PEFC EUDR DDS signals to the market and your customers that your company is aligned with EUDR requirements, enhancing your credibility and customer trust.

How to set up your PEFC EUDR DDS

We have broken down the process of setting up your PEFC EUDR DDS into ten easily digestible steps. These steps go from identifying your role and understanding the requirements, through the updates you will need to do to your management system, and how to prepare for the audit.

The latest news

On the path to EUDR alignment: see our webinar recording

16 December 2024: Last week, we held the latest instalment of the PEFC alignment to EUDR webinar series, sharing news from the European Commission as well as the roll out of the new PEFC EUDR compliance support solution. Find out more.

Revised PEFC Sustainable Forest Management benchmark standard approved

13 November 2024: The revised PEFC SFM benchmark standard was approved by the PEFC General Assembly. The revised standard, PEFC ST 1003:2024, comprises several new and amended requirements that will enable EUDR alignment for PEFC-certified material coming directly from a PEFC-certified forest. Find out more or download the standard.

The European Commission proposes to delay the EUDR application start

2 October 2024: The European Commission announced a proposal for an additional 12 months to prepare for the start of application of the EUDR. Along with it, the Commission published the EUDR guidelines and updated the FAQ document, together with some other relevant implementation material. Find out more

EUDR DDS module standard published

26 July 2024: Following its approval by the PEFC General Assembly, PEFC ST 2002-1:2024, Requirements for the Implementation of PEFC EUDR Due Diligence System (PEFC EUDR DDS), was published on 20 July 2024. Find out more or download the module standard.

Contact us

If you have any questions or queries regarding PEFC and our alignment with EUDR, please contact us at eudr@pefc.org

You can also sign up to our Technical Matters newsletter to keep up to date on all the latest PEFC EUDR news.

PEFC EUDR webinars

PEFC: on the path to EUDR alignment, December 2024

Watch the latest update of our PEFC alignment to EUDR webinar series. We shared the latest news from the European Commission as well as the roll out of the new PEFC EUDR compliance support solution.


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PEFC supporting you in the EUDR

Forest certification is a valuable tool in preventing the flow of material coming from forests connected to deforestation and degradation, due to the assurances it provides through third-party verification. PEFC is well placed to ensure you will be able to meet the EUDR requirements.

Proven experience

  • PEFC is a proven and credible certification partner for 25 years with robust standards in place.
  • We have more than 10 years of experience and alignment with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and engage with the EU on other relevant legislation.
  • As the world's largest forest certification system with global reach and presence in the northern and southern hemispheres, we have experience on the ground and knowledge of forest specifics in 50 countries.

Holistic and inclusive

  • PEFC certification already addresses sustainability, legality and due diligence and considers deforestation and forest degradation through our Sustainable Forest Management and Chain of Custody standards.
  • PEFC was developed to serve smallholders and will continue to do so, by putting in place solutions that will enable smallholders’ inclusion in markets and supply chains, not leaving them behind.

Pragmatic and solution focused

  • Our documentation covers a range of issues that strengthened our stand on EUTR and already bring us closer towards the alignment with the EUDR.
  • We will strive for solutions that are implementable and practical, avoiding additional complexity and burden.
  • While voluntary certification does not bring direct compliance with the EUDR, by requiring companies to undergo a due diligence process, PEFC certification will help facilitate companies' compliance with the EUDR.

PEFC's roadmap to EUDR alignment

Behind the scenes, our Working Groups and Task Forces are working on our development streams to ensure we have practical solutions in place to enable you to successfully implement EUDR. We also continue to engage with the EU Commission, as we have done since the start of the EUDR development process.

We continue to follow the developments at the European Commission, such as the possible postponement of the application date, and will update our road map accordingly.

Our technology partners

We are developing partnerships with a range of Earth Observation (EO) and Traceability companies.

LIVE EO, osapiens, and TimberID have end-to-end software solutions for EUDR compliance which include Earth Observation checks for deforestation and degradation, data sharing capability and Due Diligence Statement functionality.

Timbeter are specialists in geolocation and traceability of timber and are currently adding further EUDR capabilities to their product offering. Ekwato is an efficient digital solution to manage and monitor timber products purchasing policies.

Find out more about our technical partners below.

LiveEO

Live Eo offers earth observation technologies and solutions for asset monitoring, providing insights for businesses for increased safety, efficiency, and sustainability.


osapiens

osapiens provides Software-as-a-Service solutions to enable global companies establish corporate sustainability, fulfil legal ESG requirements, and automate manual processes.

Deeplai

Deeplai developed the DeepTech solution Timber ID to meet and solve EUDR objectives, providing proof of timber provenance in the chain of custody.

Timbeter

Forest tech company Timbeter offers a digital timber measurement solution that uses machine learning technology and artificial intelligence for accurate log detection and supply chain management.

Supply Logica

Innovative and trusted, Supply Logica (made by OBBOIS) combines over a decade of expertise with easy and advanced tools for mapping, risk analysis, and mitigation solutions, providing a reliable and accessible tool for EUDR compliance and sustainable supply chains.

Ekwato

Ekwato is an efficient digital solution to meet companies' internal, normative or regulatory requirements when purchasing wood products, providing a tool to manage complex documentation and risk analysis process for each product.

Orbify

Orbify offers satellite-powered environmental analytics for EUDR compliance and Nature Conservation. Orbify’s EUDR tool, Compliance Orb, streamlines the EUDR compliance process by performing historical deforestation analysis, assessing risks, and providing near-real-time alerts to ensure deforestation-free supply chains.

Airbus

Airbus Defence and Space operates a constellation of high and very high-resolution satellites that provides high quality imagery anywhere in the world. In partnership with Earthworm Foundation, Airbus has co-developed Starling, a geospatial solution designed to measure the environmental impact across entire supply chains. Starling supports companies reach their no-deforestation commitments, verify compliance around no deforestation obligations (e.g. EUDR) as well as provide quality data for carbon calculations and forest positive activities.

Product DNA

Product DNA offers SaaS and consulting services focused on traceability and transparency. With two decades of expertise, the solutions enable companies to collaborate with their suppliers and facilitate the collection, organization, and management of traceability data across every stage of a product's or material's life. The expertise covers multiple sectors, with a strong focus on the wood industry. This helps businesses share the stories of their products, meet regulatory requirements, and build trust.

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