Chain of Custody certification is a systematic process that traces wood through meticulous inventory and stock control along the supply chain. This journey starts from the certified forest where the wood was initially harvested, extends through the manufacturing process, and concludes at the final point of sale—whether it be a timber yard, hardware store, or furniture shop. This process applies to both domestic and international transactions.

Wood products originating from a certified forest may be accompanied by documentation or a product label, serving as tangible evidence of the product’s certified origin. This information allows for traceability back to the last certified organization that either transformed or possessed the product within the chain.

To uphold the integrity of the entire process, each company within the supply chain must undergo independent certification (AFS/PEFC™/FSC®). This stringent certification ensures that every link in the chain of custody remains unbroken, emphasizing the commitment to responsible and sustainable wood sourcing practices.

FSC® is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

FSC® vision

The world’s forests meet the social, ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations.

FSC® mission

The Forest Stewardship Council® A.C. (FSC®) shall promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. Environmentally appropriate forest management ensures that the harvest of timber and non-timber products maintains the forest’s biodiversity, productivity, and ecological processes.

For more info see www.fscaustralia.org

As the world’s largest forest certification system, PEFC™ remains the certification system of choice for small, non-industrial private forests, with hundreds of thousands of family forest owners certified to comply with our Sustainability Benchmark.

Promoting Sustainable Forest Management

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification.

PEFC™ works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. Thanks to its eco-label, customers and consumers are able to identify products from sustainably managed forests.

For further information www.pefc.org