Certify Your Construction Project

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Certify your construction project

The construction industry faces specific challenges when proving that the timber specified and supplied for individual construction projects is from certified sustainable sources. Chain of custody certification is not always the most efficient option for these short-term projects involving different, uncertified contractors.

We solved this challenge with chain of custody certification for specified projects, or ‘project certification’, a mechanism for gaining independent verification of the use of certified timber in a one-off project with a limited duration.

Acknowledging the sustainable choices made within the construction industry is becoming increasingly important, as engineered wood such as CLT and glulam become more mainstream. Through Responsible Wood project certification, it’s now possible for you to clearly and reliably demonstrate your decision to build with Responsible Wood-certified timber.

Certification process

The certification process for Responsible Wood project certification is very similar to the normal process. You will need to establish the required procedures and arrange responsibilities before certification can be granted and the construction work can begin. What is different is that once the project is completed the certification body will need to verify the calculated Responsible Wood claim linked to your project.

Benefits of project certification

Recognition that not all sub-contractors are certified

Many contractors will be involved on-site and not all will have their own chain of custody certification. Project certification allows non-certified sub-contractors to operate under the ‘umbrella’ of the main contractors’ certification, as long as all of their activities are confined to the certified site.

Proof of traceability

Certification of the timber or timber-derived products within your construction project provides independently verified assurance that the wood used originates from responsibly managed forests, with the material tracked through every stage of the process from forest to the project.

Independent third party verification

Certification represents a fraction of the cost of the overall build. Independent third party verification proves that your project has been rigorously audited against an international standard, so your clients can be assured of a higher level of certainty that your data is accurate and valid, setting you apart from your competitors.

Promotion of the project

You can use Responsible Wood trademarks to promote your project’s responsible sourcing credentials and give public claims about the use of certified timber during the build.

Assurances that the project is contributing to environmental conservation and economic sustainability

You can provide assurances to both your suppliers and clients that you procured only legal and sustainable timber. In doing so, you have reduced the risk to reputation which could be caused by seizure and/or fines under the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012. Gaining certification provides evidence of your organisation’s commitment to being a sustainable company.

How project certification works

With Responsible Wood project certification, we consider the specific project to be the ‘product’ to which the chain of custody process is applied.

In practice, this means that you, as the Project Manager, obtain a chain of custody certificate for project certification and implement it for a specific project. Contractors working on this project are then covered as Project Members and are not required to obtain chain of custody certification themselves.

As the Project Manager, you will have to comply with the relevant requirements and establish a suitable management system. This management system will allow for the control of records, training of staff, internal audits, and complaint resolution. This system will also cover the activities performed by Project Members, to control and record timber arriving and being used on site.

As with the regular chain of custody, you need to maintain meticulous records on all aspects of the forest-based products received on site, and employees involved in the project must be competent and receive sufficient training.

Get certified

Whether you're a forest owner or company within the forest supply chain, get Responsible Wood and PEFC certified and help protect the world's forests.

Find certified

Find certified Responsible Wood timber, paper and wood products. Verify that a company is Responsible Wood certified. Search for Responsible Wood certified companies and products.

Become a member

Demonstrate your commitment and activate your support to forests by becoming a Responsible Wood stakeholder member.

Contribute to Our Standards

From giving feedback through an online public consultation, to helping drive the development of a standard by joining a working group, you can help us to ensure our standards meet your expectations.

Certify your construction project