FSC® and PEFC certification – TÜV SÜD boosts its presence on the German market

TÜV SÜD is stepping up its activities in chain-of-custody certification of wood and paper products on the German market, responding to strong demand from companies seeking to gain competitive edge in this market.TÜV SÜD, through its accredited certification body in Prague, carries out audits in the wood processing and paper industry, in the print sector and at furniture manufacturers, verifying that the wood material used in products comes from legal sources and responsibly managed forests. Following successful auditing, TÜV SÜD awards the FSC® and PEFC certification marks.

The Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification for wood and paper products promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. “When it comes to natural resources such as wood, consumers in Europe increasingly prefer sustainable and certified products”, explains Sebastian Hetsch, Product Manager at TÜV SÜD. “From garden chairs to public transport tickets, milk cartons and books – our certification of wood and paper products gives consumers confidence that the material used comes from ecologically managed and socially beneficial sources.”

Companies that seek TÜV SÜD certification can opt for separate FSC or PEFC CoC certification or combined certification according to both schemes. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®), an independent not-for-profit non-governmental organisation, was founded in 1993 in the wake of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. It has the worldwide support of environmental organisations, trade unions and numerous companies in the forestry and wood industry. PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) is the world’s largest forest certification endorsement organisation for ensuring and continuously improving responsible forest management, guaranteeing ecological, social and economical standards. PEFC was founded by forest owners.