Sourcing Sustainably – Meet Your Certified Supplier
To enable sustainability of Australia’s forests, the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme provides guidance and accountability to forest managers, manufacturers and suppliers.
What is certification?
Forest certification is a voluntary, market-based instrument, implemented through two separate but linked processes: sustainable forest management certification and chain of custody certification.
Sustainable forest management certification assures that forests are managed in line with challenging environmental, social and economic requirements.
Chain of custody certification tracks forest-based products from sustainable sources to the final product. It demonstrates that each step of the supply chain is closely monitored through independent auditing to ensure that unsustainable sources are excluded.
The Scheme is made up of two Australian Standards:
- Sustainable Forest Management (AS / NZS 4708)
- Chain of Custody (AS 4707)
The Australian Standard for Sustainable Forest Management was developed through a rigorous 3-year process involving community, industry, scientific, academic, environmental, indigenous, employee and government representatives. It was specifically designed to suit Australian unique environments, legal systems and community expectations.
Both Standards are based on internationally recognised frameworks, such as ISO 14000 environmental management standards and the criteria of the ‘Montreal Process’ for sustainable forest management. The Standards were also developed using the formal Australian Standards process.
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Native forests available & suitable for commercial wood production
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Area of commercial plantation forest
Sustaining Australia's forests
Under Responsible Wood, Australians can be proud that:
- Australia is the 3rd largest certified forest area (hectares) in the world
- 90% of our large public and private native (timber harvesting) forests and plantations are certified
Source: PEFC, October 2017
Meeting International Sustainability Benchmarks
The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the global authority on sustainable forest management.
The high standards of PEFC include requirements to:
- Safeguard ecologically important forest areas
- Protect and enhance biological diversity
- Prohibit deforestation
- Prohibit forest conversions
- Prohibit use of the most dangerous chemicals
- Prohibit genetically modified trees
- Respect rights of workers and indigenous peoples
- Encourage local employment
- Provide consultation with local people and stakeholders
- Respect traditional land rights and local customs
- Provide a voice for those who depend on forest for their livelihood
PEFC endorsement follows rigorous third-party assessment and is reviewed every five years. This ensures the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme continuously improves and evolves, and that we engage all interested stakeholders on an ongoing basis.
