PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is the largest forest certification system globally.
Detailed Definition
PEFC is an international umbrella organization, founded in 1999 and based in Geneva, that assesses national forest certification systems against its own sustainability benchmarks and endorses those that meet them. In the United States, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the American Tree Farm System are PEFC-endorsed. PEFC also has a chain of custody standard so certified material can be tracked from the forest to the finished product. Along with FSC, it is one of the two main forest certification schemes buyers ask for in sustainable sourcing.
How PEFC endorsement works
PEFC does not certify forests directly. National or regional schemes write forest management standards for their own conditions, and PEFC assesses those standards before endorsing them. Forest owners are then certified against the endorsed national standard by independent certification bodies. Once a scheme is endorsed, wood from forests certified under it can be sold as PEFC certified, provided each company in the supply chain meets the chain of custody rules.
PEFC chain of custody for pallets
For a pallet to be sold with a PEFC claim, the pallet maker must hold its own PEFC chain of custody certificate, and the lumber it buys must come with valid PEFC claims from certified suppliers. The certified company tracks certified material through its operations and states the claim on invoices or delivery documents. Buyers can ask for the certificate number and check it in PEFC's public certificate search.
PEFC or FSC for pallet sourcing
Some customers accept either scheme, while others name one in their sourcing policy. Check the exact wording before requesting quotes, since many pallet suppliers hold only one certificate, if any. Certified material can affect lead time and availability. See ESG procurement.
Authoritative Sources
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC): the largest forest certification system globally, recognized for sustainable pallet timber sourcing.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pallet be sold as PEFC certified?
Yes, but only when the pallet maker holds a valid PEFC chain of custody certificate and the wood comes from certified sources with valid claims. Without that certificate, a supplier cannot make a PEFC claim on the pallet, even if some of its lumber came from certified forests. Ask for the certificate number and scope, check it in PEFC's online database, and make sure the claim appears on the invoice.
Is SFI the same as PEFC?
No. SFI is a North American certification program with its own standards and organization. PEFC is an international body that endorses national schemes, and SFI's forest management standard is one of the schemes it has endorsed. In practice, material from SFI-certified forests can often be sold with a PEFC claim through the right chain of custody, but buyers should confirm which claim their customer or policy actually requires.