PEFC Webinar: Building a better future with certified timber

Countries around the world are aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 as a response to the Paris Agreement to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. The global construction sector has a key role to play in achieving net zero, and PEFC believes that building with low carbon certified timber is a key part of the solution.

Join our PEFC Webinar: Building a better future with certified timber to learn how timber construction supports climate mitigation and other global sustainability targets, and the important role that PEFC certification plays. The webinar is free to attend and takes place 16 December at 11:00-12:00 CET. Register now.

We will be joined by three experts in the field of sustainable construction and strong advocates of timber as a building material:

Mark Wayne Probert from Binderholz will take us through the manufacturing journey, from sustainably managed forests to innovative mass engineered timber (MET) technology. Highlighting why the use of PEFC-certified timber is so important to the company, and showcasing MET projects.

Paul Jarquin, President and founder of REI Habitat, the first property developer in France to become PEFC certified, will focus in on the situation and opportunities in France. With the French government mandating that all new public buildings will be built from at least 50% timber or other natural materials, France is leading the world.

Finally, Mark Thomson, architect and Director of Eco-Effective Solutions, will focus in on why architects should be specifying certified timber. He’ll explain the inherent properties of timber in building, from their role in climate change mitigation, to their aesthetics.

Please note that the webinar will be in English, and you need to register in advance in order to receive the link. 

Spaces are limited – register for free now!

Why should you attend?

This webinar will provide you with a solid background on the sustainability wins for timber construction. You’ll come away with a better understanding of the social, environmental and economic benefits of designing and building with certified timber. 

Our expert speakers will share with you a range of innovative projects, illustrating the numerous and varied advantages that building with certified timber brings.

Finally, the webinar will demonstrate why sourcing and building with certified timber is so critical, and how PEFC certification provides assurances of responsible sourcing.

Don't delay – register now!

Who should attend?

While everyone is welcome, the webinar will be of particular interest to those working in the construction sector – whether you are already using timber, or are interested in finding out more about the sustainability advantages of timber construction.

From architects, specifiers and developers, to structural engineers, contractors, house builders and the timber supply chain, join us to learn how together we can build a better future with responsibly-sourced timber.

Register now!

Source: https://www.pefc.org/news/pefc-webinar-building-a-better-future-with-certified-timber

 

Media News Bulletin from PEFC Asia Pacific

Consumer Choice:
Buy Products from the Forest
PEFC has a distinct message for the consumer this month. On the occasion of the end of PEFC's 20th anniversary year, CEO Ben Gunneberg says we must "choose forest-based materials instead of alternatives such as plastic. If we don’t use our forests, the land will be used for other purposes, such as cattle ranches or soy plantations. Buying forest products, such as wood and paper, gives the forest value, it creates demand, and provides a financial incentive to keep a forest a forest." There's plenty of news here about products from the forests of Asia Pacific and further afield.
 
 
Sustainable Management for Vietnam's Rubber Plantations
The Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) has awarded the first Vietnam Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certificates, covering more than 11,400 ha of plantations, belonging to three Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) companies. VRG members own about 300,000 ha rubber plantation in Vietnam. Tran Ngoc Thuan, VRG’s Chairman said he aims to get SFM certificates for over 50,000 ha of rubber plantations in 2020, along with PEFC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificates for 21 factories.Read more.
 
 
Indonesia's Forest Certification System Gets Top Score
SLVK, KAN, IAF, TPAC, IFCC and PEFC. Lots of acronyms at work for Indonesia. A clear sign that sustainable forestry management is being taken seriously. SVLK (Sistem Verificasi Legalitas Kayu) is Indonesia’s national timber assurance process, a mandatory, legality and sustainability certification system built on a national multi-stakeholder consensus. KAN (Komite Akreditasi Nasional) is the National Accreditation Body of Indonesia and is, in turn, a member of the IAF, the International Accreditation Forum. Additional support for forest management in the region is coming from the Dutch Timber Procurement Assessment Committee (TPAC). While its main job is to make sure Netherlands keeps its commitment to 100% sustainable timber, it has also given Indonesia’s forest certification system a top score, thanks to the work of IFCC, the national governing body for PEFC. Read how PEFC manages these standards.
 
 
Global Webinar Highlights Value of Sustainable Packaging
While studies are showing that the majority of consumers say they would change their consumption habits to reduce environment impact, never has it been so important to use sustainable materials, to know that your products come from sustainable sources and to prove that to your customers. PEFC strongly believes that increasing the use of sustainable, certified forest-based packaging has huge potential to not only help companies meet sustainability targets, but also to have a positive impact on the world’s forests and forest communities. Stakeholders and industry watchers - including dozens from Asia Pacific countries - joined the 23 June Webinar on "Creating impact through responsibly sourced packaging". Read More
 
 
Celebrating the Power of Trees & the True Value of Forests
Besides alleviating the effects of climate change and natural disasters, forests represent some of the richest biologically diverse areas on Earth. The true value of a forest is recognised by Responsible Wood, the Australian National Governing Body for PEFC, which also plays an important role supporting the Australian Made Campaign, promoting the many benefits of using renewable, locally-made timber framing products to build new homes. Responsible Wood also draws attention to artists who are working with wood - see image of wood sculpture by Dave Hickson - as it offers great flexibility for expression, is natural and is sustainably sourced. You can read more here.
 

With PEFC, Global Timber Asia has Sustainability Credentials
With its origins in Europe, Global Timber - as its name implies - operates in the global market place, now with a base in Malaysia to serve the Asia Pacific. As a player in the international wood industry, it is at the forefront of contributing to the preservation of global forests through sustainable behaviour, environmental certifications and compliance with various important environmental certifications. With that in mind, Global Timber states categorically: "PEFC is a good way to document and prove the sustainability of our products." Read More
 
 
Venturer Wins Chain of Custody Certification for Projects
Venturer Timberwork is the first Singapore business to obtain PEFC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, issued by Double Helix and authorised by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC). Venturer, with several building projects in the region lined up, is looking to be the first PEFC Project certified company in Singapore. Venturer is also believed to be the first timber contractor in Asia to be CoC certified. Not only a strong advocate for responsible sourcing and sustainable forest management, but Venturer also promotes the greater use of certified Mass Engineered Timber (MET), Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam. Read More
 
 
SIIA: PEFC Engaging Consumer for Sustainable Sourcing
In the latest Haze Outlook for Southeast Asia, the Singapore Institute for International Affairs (SIIA) acknowledges the role of certification: "While plantation and forestry certification schemes naturally target resource-producing countries, efforts are also under way to engage with consumer markets. In the wood and paper sector, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), a global alliance of national forest certification systems, is now promoting chain of custody (COC) certification within Southeast Asia to ensure traceable and sustainable sourcing of forest-based products." Read More
 
 
Furnilac First for Chain of Custody in Indonesia
Furnilac Primaguna, PT is the first furniture manufacturer in Indonesia that is certified against the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation (IFCC). Besides being committed to the principles of design thinking and styling, sustainability is now uppermost in the minds of Furnilac, as it makes sure all the wood material it uses comes from legal and sustainable sources, approved by Indonesia’s timber legality system, SVLK or Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu. Panels and Furniture has the story.Read More
 
 
APR Adopts Vision to Build Resilience for Man-made Fibres
With COVID-19 and climate change causing lasting disruption in the textile and apparel industry, Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) joins other significant industry players and stakeholders to adopt an ambitious shared vision, MMCF 2030, for unleashing the man-made cellulosic fibres’ huge untapped potential for building resilience in the global textile industry. APR - the first fully integrated viscose rayon producer in Asia with its 240,000-tonne capacity mill co-located in Pangkalan Kerinci, Indonesia - has also joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). It will use the group’s sustainability measurement suite of tools to drive environmental and social responsibility throughout its supply chain. Read more.
 
 
Fragrance from the Forests Goes Global with OPSO & PEFC
ÖPSO is a sustainable home fragrance series made from natural tree resin. Both fragrance and packaging are PEFC certified. This is a world first. OPSO says its innovative and sustainable composition replaces artificial ingredients in traditional fragrances with natural resin from Mediterranean pine trees, thus helping to preserve the forests of our planet. Read More
 
 
If you need more information on any of the items above, or any other work by PEFC in Asia Pacific, feel free to contact:
Or go to PEFC International: www.pefc.org

2020 PEFC Photographer of the Year – winner announced!

12 countries, 8000 photos, 1 winner. We are delighted to announce the 2020 PEFC Photographer of the Year, chosen from nearly 8000 photos entered into the ‘Experience Forests, Experience PEFC’ photo contest.

The Award went to Keril Chairil, for his beautiful image ‘Morning Activities’, taken at Situ Gunung Lake in West Java, Indonesia. The image captures the magical atmosphere at the forest lake in the early morning.

“Thank you to the judges for choosing my photo as the winner of the 2020 PEFC Photographer of the Year Award! It is great that my photo can open people’s eyes for the importance of forests,” said Keril Chairil.

“We received so many stunning forest photos this year, choosing a winner was really not easy! But the whole jury agreed that Keril’s photo is exceptional,” said Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International CEO.

“We just love the fishermen, the greenery, the water reflections – what is not to like about this photograph?”

Victor Rodriguez, a photographer and member of the PEFC International jury, shares why the jury chose this photo as the winner.

“The action is eye-catching and is the key to this image – the casting of the net and the link between the fishermen and life under water. This reminds us that humans can be part of nature in a beautiful way,” he explains.

“The fishermen are surrounded by a peaceful, and almost static environment. The light is really soft and adds some magic to the scene, while the colours contribute to the general serene mood.”

The contest

For the fourth time, our ‘Experience Forests, Experience PEFC’ photo contest invited photographers and forest lovers from around the world to show us their best forest photos – and again, we received thousands of stunning images!

National contests were run by our members in 12 countries, and the photos entered show the beauty of forests worldwide. The winners of the national contests entered the international contest to compete for the ‘2020 PEFC Photographer of the Year’ Award.

The top 12 images were presented on Facebook Live and will star in our 2020 photo calendar.

 

Fashions change, Forests stay

Fashion follows the seasonal cycle of nature, at the same time, its environmental impact is well known. As climate change and other environmental issues worsen globally, the industry is looking to replace its conventional materials with sustainable alternatives. Forests are part of the solution.

Natural and renewable forest fibres have a huge potential to make the fashion industry more sustainable. But the origin of these fibres is critical and must be proven. This is where PEFC and sustainable forest management comes in, protecting our forests and the people that depend on them, while providing us with the materials needed to create our clothes.

Video credits:
Paper Artist - www.sampierpoint.com
Photographer and Animator - www.mikefoyle.com/photo

Forests' contribution to our planet

Our forests are amazing. They help mitigate climate change, maintain water quality and stabilize soil, provide food and livelihoods to millions of people and are home to an extraordinary amount of biodiversity. Forest products meanwhile, provide us with a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels – from construction to clothing. But we need to manage our forests sustainably. 

Download our white paper to read how sustainable forest management can help the fashion industry reduce its carbon footprint.

The PEFC solution

PEFC sustainable forest management certification provides assurances that forests are managed in line with challenging international requirements, safeguarding them and protecting their diverse functions. It requires certified forest owners to manage their forests in a way that maintains or enhances the ecological, social, cultural, and economic values of the forest. 

PEFC chain of custody certification then provides the link, tracking forest-based products from these forests to the final product, monitoring each step of the supply chain through independent third- party auditing. It also covers minimum requirements on health, safety and labour issues. 

By sourcing PEFC-certified materials, you not only have assurance of their sustainable origin, but you also contribute to the sustainable management of the world’s forests. Building trust in forest products supports sustainable livelihoods, helps to build responsible value chains, and increases the value of forests. In turn, increasing their value helps to keep forests standing, preventing them from being cleared for alternative, unsustainable land uses.

Why you should procure certified material

There are numerous benefits of ensuring that you procure PEFC-certified material, for both your business and the planet. 

It gives you the assurance that your procurement of forest fibres doesn’t contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, as well as helping you to meet climate targets. In addition, maintaining forests and creating sustainable forest value chains is critical for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Ethical consumption is on the rise, as market research has repeatedly shown over the past years. Being able to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability is therefore a clear market advantage. Sourcing PEFC-certified material proves your social and environmental responsibility to the public and your customers.

PEFC-certified material is widely available. 75% of the world's certified forests are under PEFC certification – around 320 million hectares. Using PEFC-certified material therefore enables you to secure your supply of responsibly sourced material and increase your business resilience. 

Over 20,000 companies worldwide, including major fibre suppliers, hold PEFC chain of custody certification, ensuring there is a wide variety of PEFC-certified products and materials available on the market.

Procuring PEFC-certified material also means increased efficiency and flexibility through a consistent and stable supply chain, as well as enhanced measuring and reporting of volume of certified forest materials in the supply chain.

The PEFC Collaboration Roadmap – five steps by 2025

Fashion brands and retailers have a huge opportunity to help champion and support the sustainable management of the world’s forests, bringing benefits to you, our forests and the world. We invite you to join us and work together to make the most of this opportunity.

To help, we have created a five-step road map to a sustainable forest management policy. This roadmap can also be easily connected and complimented by your other viscose-related polices on chemicals or water use. 

  1. Engage with PEFC to learn more about how sustainably managed forests store carbon, protect biodiversity, support rural communities and support the fashion industry.
  2. Develop a responsible sourcing policy for wood-based fibres and other wood-based materials – from clothing to packaging and point of sale.
  3. Map your supply chain and collaborate to implement procedures that trace wood-based products back to origin to ensure they are sustainable.
  4. Increase your sourcing of wood-based products from sustainably managed forests and recycled sources and set ambitious targets to achieve 100% sourcing from certified sustainably managed forests.
  5. Collaborate with PEFC and our global network of 750,000 forest owners, from the large to the small, to meet your environmental goals through projects that protect and restore forests.

Join PEFC!

The time to increase your positive impact is now. Together we can make a difference for the future of the fashion industry, our forests and our world.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.?subject=Five-steps%20by%202025">

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and work together to promote sustainable management of the world’s forests.

Documentation

Source: https://pefc.org/what-we-do/our-collective-impact/our-campaigns/fashions-change-forests-stay

 

Issue PEFC recognized accreditations

As an accreditation body you play an important role in assuring the independence and performance of certification bodies issuing PEFC certificates.

You may have been requested by a certification body to provide an accreditation against a PEFC endorsed forest management standard and/or the PEFC Chain of Custody standard. Having a PEFC accreditation program enables you to provide services to certification bodies seeking to carry out PEFC certification in your country.

We only accept accreditations from ABs that are members of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), or one of the regional accreditation groups such as the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC).

We then have specific additional requirements, depending on the type of certification for which the accreditation is provided.

For forest management certification, our PEFC endorsed national forest certification systems will include specific performance requirements based on our Technical Document Annex 6. This includes for example the public availability of summary audit reports and stakeholder consultations in the certification process.

For PEFC chain of custody certification, the certification body will need to comply with our PEFC ST 2003. Additionally, your AB needs to be a signatory of the Multilateral Recognition Agreement for product certification (MLA). PEFC ST 2003 provides all technical details for the accreditation.

To find out more, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Training requirements

As you are assessing the performance of certification bodies issuing PEFC certificates, it is important to have sufficient expertise on the PEFC system and the PEFC Chain of Custody standard within the assessment team. We find it equally important that, like the auditors, you are kept up to date on our expectations, clarifications and interpretations to the standard.

Many accreditation bodies have solved this by using external technical experts with proven knowledge of the PEFC standard. Others have ensured that their personnel received sufficient training. 

We offer different options to have your personnel or technical experts trained. As a first option they could attend an auditor training course. A second possibility is to send them to one of the dedicated accreditation body trainings that we organize periodically.

Technical calibration training for accreditation bodies

In January 2020, we published the revised international standards for PEFC Chain of Custody (ST 2002), PEFC Trademarks (ST 2001) and Certification Body Requirements for Chain of Custody (ST 2003). These three standards entered into force on 14 February 2020, with a 24-month transition period.

In order to support accreditation bodies, we are offering technical calibration training to update your representatives on the key changes to these three standards. This technical calibration aims at providing you with the technical background necessary to conduct your accreditation tasks. 

You can find all the upcoming training for accreditation bodies on the training section of our website. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter (at the bottom of this page) to ensure you get all the latest training news and dates, or follow us on Twitter.

You can also contact us for more information at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Source: https://pefc.org/for-business/certification-and-accreditation-bodies/accreditation-bodies