How PEFC meets best practice

31 December 2022 Annual Review

Trust in the PEFC label is key to our work. To ensure that everyone, from foresters to consumers, has confidence in our label, PEFC is regularly evaluated both through self-assessments and by independent third parties.

In 2022, we undertook a self-assessment against the Accountability Framework, with input received from the Accountability Framework initiative (AFi), a collaborative effort to build and scale up ethical supply chains for agricultural and forestry products.

In 2019, the AFi launched the Accountability Framework, a set of common principles, definitions, and guidance to support companies in addressing deforestation, conversion, and human rights impacts of supply chains. The assessment found that PEFC is generally aligned with the Accountability Framework on the topics related to no-deforestation, respecting all human rights, and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, and workers.

Other notable external recognitions include:

• The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), whose Pulp, Paper, and Fibre-based Packaging (PPP) Roadmap highlights the role of certification systems such as PEFC as a key tool to combat deforestation.
• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise PEFC as an official indicator towards SDG Indicator 15.2.1 – Progress towards sustainable forest management.
• The Climate Bonds Initiative, whose “Forestry Criteria” lay out the requirements that forestry infrastructure assets or projects must meet to be included in a Certified Climate Bond. PEFC certification is accepted as eligible to demonstrate compliance with the ‘Forestry Criteria’.
• The ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (ASEAN RAI), with the report “Mapping of Industry and Investment Standards and Principles to the ASEAN RAI”, gives PEFC the highest ranking (9.5 out of 10 points) in the assessment against the ASEAN RAI Guidelines

Exchange and collaboration at EU level

PEFC meets in Brussels PEFC members from around the world gathered in the Belgian and EU capital in September to progress our work at the level of the Board and regional and thematic working groups.

The week held inspiring discussions and productive meetings among PEFC members and with EU actors.

With the message of the week: “PEFC is here to support”, this was also an opportunity for our Board of Directors to meet the representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament, and exchange on ongoing topics related to sustainable forests.

A new Working Group for EU-related matters

The week in Brussels was also the opportunity for the first meeting of our EU affairs Working Group, which was established in April 2022.

Aiming to support our efforts at EU level, the new PEFC platform will closely look at EU policy developments and processes impacting our system, and exchange on key EU priorities.

Engagement at EU level for a collective impact

To amplify our collective impact in safeguarding the EU’s and the world’s forests, PEFC partners with a wide range of stakeholders.

We strongly believe that increased engagement with EU institutions and stakeholder representatives can bring us a step closer to our common goals.

The work of the European Commission and applicable EU legislation impacts PEFC’s standard-setting. Thanks to PEFC’s readiness to adapt and contribute to the solution, our certification already acts as an important part of the EU forest toolbox.

We will continue to work towards providing an improved understanding of PEFC’s role and the value voluntary forest certification has in supporting the EU policy objectives on the ground – as a multiplier to help give the EU legislation an impact beyond the EU, but also as a strong believer in dialogue and consensus.

Regional impact of our national quality infrastructure development

2022 marked the second year of the collaboration between our PEFC FOR-TRADE project and the UN-REDD Initiative: Promoting Sustainable Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong Region (SFT-LMR).

The PEFC FOR-TRADE programme stands for Forestry and Trade for Development in the ASEAN region.

It works to strengthen trade through the institutionalisation of forest certification infrastructure, and to enhance the development of national forest certification systems in Southeast Asia. 

SFT-LMR aims to reduce pressure on forests through improved governance in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In 2022, we continued working towards this aim, with positive results in several areas.

Important steps were made in Cambodia and Laos towards establishing national forest certification systems, while our national members for Vietnam and Thailand made significant improvements in their governance mechanisms.

Chain of custody certification became a focus in the second year of the SFT-LMR initiative.

The growing interest was reflected in the number of companies moving actively forward to obtain certification.

The initiative also supported the development of our Due Diligence System (DDS) toolkits, improving traceability and minimising the risk of timber products from controversial sources entering supply chains, which is central to developing responsible and sustainable trade in the ASEAN region. 

Finally, communications played an important role, and we continued to share news, best practices, and market linkages between supply chain actors, focusing on the rubber and furniture sectors.

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