Certifications for Forestry Operations

NSF is one of only a few certification bodies accredited to conduct audits to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and American Tree Farm System® (ATFS®) standards. We also provide integrated SFI and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) audits that can save time, money and resources.

NSF Certification, LLC (FSC-N003091) delivers FSC certification services in association with Soil Association Certification Ltd. (FSC-A000525).

Forest management standards balance commercial values with preserving forest health and diversity.

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI 2015-2019 Standards and Rules, Section 2 and SFI 2022 Standards and Rules, Section 2)
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS 2015-2020 and ATFS 2021) certification for small family forest landowners in the U.S.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification (delivering FSC certification services (FSC-N003091) in association with Soil Association Certification Ltd., FSC-A000525)

In addition to protecting the environment, forestry certification through NSF provides:

• Brand protection through competitive differentiation and a demonstrated commitment to social responsibility
• Preferred vendor status with customers seeking more sustainable solutions
• Recognized sustainable management of your forest lands for future generations
• New sources of SFI, ATFS, PEFC or FSC certified wood or maintenance of existing sources as end users shift to requiring certification

Certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 2015-2019 and 2022 Standards and Rules Fiber Sourcing (Section 3) verifies your organization is sourcing raw material in your supply chain from legal and responsibly-managed sources.

It also demonstrates your commitment to support reforestation, protect soil and water quality, and encourage environmentally sound practices.

Chain of custody is a system of tracking fiber from certified forest content through manufacturing to end product. Any organization that processes or trades certified forest products — including manufacturers of paper and wood-based products, converters, printers, wood dealers, wholesalers and brokers — can seek certification to:

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2015-2019 Standards and Rules, Section 4: Chain of Custody Standard
• SFI 2022 Standards and Rules, Section 4: Chain of Custody Standard
• Chain of Custody, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC ST) 2002:2013
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC ST) 2002:2020
• Forest Stewardship Council certification (delivering certification services (FSC®-N003091) in association with the Soil Association Certification Ltd. (FSC-A000525,) which can be combined with SFI and/or PEFC certification from NSF)

In addition to protecting the environment, chain of custody certification provides:

• New distribution channels with manufacturers or retailers that require certified materials
• Access to international markets through mutual recognition programs (PEFC)
• Preferred vendor status with customers seeking more sustainable solutions
• Certification marks that link your product or organization to more sustainable forests

• SFI 2015-2019 Standards and Rules, Section 3, Appendix 1: Certified Sourcing Standard
• SFI 2022 Standards and Rules, Section 5: Certified Sourcing Standard

Consolidating your forestry services, or switching them to NSF, is a seamless process. Our professional staff and auditors provide reliable answers and interpretations backed by years of industry experience. Our services help determine trends and identify opportunities for improvement.