NSF-ISR Participates in the SFI/PLT Conference on Sustainable Forestry
June 24, 2022The conference features sessions on ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), plus first-timer topics.
How NSF Is Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
April 1, 2020These are uncertain and anxious times, so we want to assure you that NSF is taking proactive steps to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Our first priority is protecting the health and safety of our colleagues, clients and committee members while still providing valuable public health services to protect the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the products we use. In February 2020, we established an internal task force that meets daily to monitor the global situation and to discuss and implement appropriate actions at NSF, including travel restrictions and self-isolation protocols.
Based on the latest guidance from the U.S. CDC, we are prohibiting all non-essential, work-related travel worldwide. This includes both international and domestic travel. Due to the widespread ongoing transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, risk factors and travel restrictions are no longer focused on specific countries.
We are requiring all NSF auditors, consultants and other client-visiting staff to adhere to strict preventive measures that go above and beyond what is recommended by the U.S. CDC and the World Health Organization.
This is our commitment to you and your colleagues:
We will stay home if we are sick.
We will purchase a thermometer and check our temperature every morning to be sure we do not have a fever – a measured temperature of 99.5° F (37.5° C) or greater.
We will bring a mask and wear it upon client request.
We will wash our hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before or upon entering any client site.
We will always sanitize our mobile phones and/or tablets before use during an audit.
We will self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms daily.
We will self-isolate immediately if we come in contact with anyone known to have a confirmed or presumptive case of COVID-19.
Before entering a client site, we will ask the following 3 questions:
Do you have anyone on the premises who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
Are there any public health travel restrictions – or impending restrictions – in your country or region that would prohibit me from traveling to your location?
Do you have any specific health and safety control measures that I need to be aware of prior to my visit?
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, we want you to know that we are available to provide valuable services so you can continue to operate your business and protect your customers. NSF can provide scheduled desk audits as an alternative to our normal on-site facility audits. In some cases, we can even use wearable technology to conduct remote audits. Please talk to your account manager about solutions that might work for you.
We will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the World Health Organization and other public health authorities around the world. In the meantime, please take care of yourself, your co-workers and your family.
Contact us if you have questions.
NSF and Soil Association Team Up to Offer SFI® and FSC® Forestry Certifications
September 25, 2019ANN ARBOR, Mich. – NSF subsidiary NSF Certification, LLC and Soil Association Certification Forestry, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Soil Association, today announced an agreement to offer certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) responsible forest management standards.
“With this agreement, NSF and the Soil Association will be able to provide these important forest management standards at the same time through a single process,” said Stacey Mack, Program Manager of Sustainability at NSF. “By working together, we make the process much more convenient for companies seeking more than one certification.”
The collaboration enables organizations to certify to a full suite of forestry certifications with all-in-one project management and a single point of contact, streamlining processes and making communications more effective. U.S.-based NSF will provide certification to the SFI® standard while the UK-based Soil Association will certify to the FSC® standard. These certifications can also be combined with another forestry offering, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC).
“Our collaboration with NSF allows for the expansion of forestry solutions globally through one seamless process. Soil Association’s forestry services will help NSF meet their customers’ needs by bringing an international perspective to their work, as well as supporting them to build on their knowledge of responsible forestry practices and demonstrate their commitment to the environment,” said Kevin Jones, Head of Forestry at the Soil Association.
The SFI® and FSC® standards offer different types of certification, including
Forest management: Forest management systems aim to balance commercial values with preservation of forest health and diversity.
Procurement: Organizations sourcing wood directly from forests are required to show that the raw material in their supply chain comes from legal and responsibly-managed sources.
Chain of Custody: Chain of custody tracks fiber from certified forest content, through manufacturing, to end products.
Visit NSF's web page on sustainability services or email sustainability@nsf.org for more information.
Editor’s Note: For media requests or to schedule an interview with an NSF expert, please contact Thomas Frey, APR, at media@nsf.org or +1 734 214 6242.
In 2019, NSF is celebrating 75 years of protecting and improving human health. The independent, global organization facilitates standards development, and tests, audits and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences, sustainability and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. With operations in 180 countries, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.
Soil Association Certification is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Soil Association and has been certifying organic food and farming since 1973. Since 1996, it has also certified Forest Management (FM) and Chain of Custody (COC) with its Soil Association Certification Forestry team. Soil Association Certification is one of a select few organizations able to deliver both Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) certification globally (FSC® A000525, PEFC/16-44-917), safeguarding sustainable forest management for timber product sourcing. It currently certifies over 15 million hectares of forestry worldwide. Soil Association Certification’s Chief Executive is Martin Sawyer and its independent board is chaired by Nick Buckland. To find out more visit https://www.soilassociation.org/forestry.