What's New?
Top > Japan > What's New? : 日本語
As already reported to PEFC stakeholders, EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into effect from 3 March 2013. PEFC has been engaged in developing new COC Standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013)
by adding small but smart changes to the current standard for facilitating PEFC-COC certificate holders and stakeholders, who will be affected by the Regulation, in meeting the related requirements.
The development of the new standard is now at the final stage and will be ready for introduction in May.
In this respect, preceding the presentation of the new COC standard PEFC International has issued “Meeting EUTR Requirements through PEFC COC Certification”
which could be used as COC certificate holders’ guidance for easy adaptation to EUTR.
This document and its Japanese translation are available either by clicking the document below or accessing to the PEFC Statement Page of this webpage.
Japanese: 「PEFC-COC認証でEUTR（欧州連合木材規制）の要求事故に対応を！」
English: 「Meeting EUTR Requirements through PEFC-COV Certification」
PEFC Asia Promotions has been holding PEFC Introductory Seminar on bi-monthly basis ｓstarting from last year for both certified and non-certified companies/organisations.
However, due to the limited financial and human resources, the site was limited to in and around Tokyo.
Meantime, we hear voices from our stakeholders demanding that the seminars be held in other areas, as well.
We take it seriously and would like to plan to organise the seminars in other cities as much as possible.
For realizing the plan we will need cooperation from local companies and stakeholders and call for your kind support.
Details of the Plan
1. Areas: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kansai (around Osaka), Chugoku/Shikoku, Kyushu
2. Time: Around June or July
3. Targeted Audience: 10-20 people (your staff, customers and other related stakeholders)
4. Required Cooperation:
a. Suggestion/preparation on/of appropriate venue
b. Invitation and attraction of attendants
c. Other: preparation of seminar materials, assistance in reception and registration, etc
For the sake of further promotion of PEFC and the benefit of your PEFC-related business, we would much appreciate your kind consideration and offer of support.
Please contact PEFCA Asia Promotions for further details or offer of cooperation. info@pefcasia.org
PAFC Gabon informed public authorities, economic, the timber industry, environmental NGOs,
forest-related trade unions, representatives of the local and Indigenous people and consumers ,
and other stakeholders that it is revising its national forest certification system.
In accordance with the PEFC procedures, Forest Management standard is available for public consultation.
More details are available on the under-mentioned PAFC Gabon website.
www.pafc-gabon.org
In response to information provided by Greenpeace indicating potential non-compliances with PEFC International's Chain of custody requirements,
PEFC filed formal complaints against APP with SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd. - Qualifor Programme, the relevant certification body in these cases.
In response to the complaints, SGS commissioned investigations to examine PP's implementation of PEFC Chain of Custody requirements.
The investigations confirmed that APP implemented PEFC requirements correctly.
More information on this matter is available on the "PEFC Statements" page of this webpage.
Forestry Agency of Japan plans to introduce Timber Use Point Programme starting from 1st of April 2013. This two-years’
programme aims at making contribution to the improvement and conservation of nation’s forests, prevention of global warming and
development of cycle-based society and promoting use of domestic and local timber.
However, it has been confirmed that timber that is certified to a forest certification such as PEFC will be also applicable to the programme.
The programme outline, description of applicable materials/products, procedure of the application for the points,
the goods to be swapped and other details are available by either direct inquiry to the Forestry Agency or the under-mentioned website.
Direct inquiry:
Timber Use Point Promotion Office, Wood Product Trade Office, 81-3-6744-2496
Website:
http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/j/riyou/point/index.html
Feb 27, 2013
Stakeholders Show Strong Interest in Forest Certification in China
href="http://zensokuren.or.jp/access.html" target="_blank">The
China Forest Certification Council (CFCC) has established a platform to
facilitate interaction with and between Chinese stakeholders interested
in promoting forest certification.
The CFCC Stakeholder Forum, which was inaugurated recently in Beijing, will meet several times per year to provide information and updates about the continuous development of the China Forest Certification Scheme (CFCS).
The Forum is designed as a mechanism to encourage knowledge and information exchange, enhance transparency, foster discussions, and ultimately aims to ensure that forest certification requirements address the unique Chinese
conditions and are aligned with local management practices and culture.
The inaugural meeting of the Stakeholder Forum, which was chaired by the Secretary General of CFCC, Ms. Yu Ling, was attended by a wide range of organizations, included NGOs, companies,
certification bodies, forest industry associations, researchers as well as government representatives.
CFCC Chairman, Wang Wei, outlined progress, key developments and next steps in the development of the national Chinese forest certification system. Participants welcomed the presentation of two draft standards on
Plantation Management and Bamboo Management by Mr. Lu Wenming, who leads the standard setting working group, and offered a number of suggestions and potential improvements, which will be considered by the working group in due course.
Technical discussions also focussed on the impact of PEFC International's 2013 Chain of Custody standard on its Chinese equivalent.
In an open exchange, stakeholder representatives shared their views on various issues and brought forward comments and suggestions concerning the future of forest certification in China.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Wang Wei expressed his desire for future CFCC Stakeholder Forum meetings to be conducted in a similar cooperative spirit and for the vitality and
enthusiasm that participants have shown to be sustained.
In an open exchange, stakeholder representatives shared their views on various issues and brought forward comments and suggestions concerning the future of forest certification in China. In his concluding remarks,
Mr. Wang Wei expressed his desire for future CFCC Stakeholder Forum meetings to be conducted in a similar cooperative spirit and for the vitality and enthusiasm that participants have shown to be sustained.
CFCC joined PEFC International in 2011, and submitted the China Forest Certification Scheme for PEFC endorsement and mutual recognition in 2012. The endorsement process is ongoing.
Participants of the CFCC Stakeholder Forum Meeting included representatives from
• MeadWestvaco China
• Bayer Crop Science China Co.,Ltd
• UPM China
• Stora Enso Guangxi Forestry Co., Ltd
• APP China
• Bureau Veritas China
• SGS-CSTC
• Beijing ZhonglinTianhe Forest Certification Center
• Heilongjiang Forestry Industry Group
• Jilin Forestry Industry Group
• Inner Mongolia Forestry Industry Group
• WWF China Office
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC) China Office
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) China Office
• China Wildlife Conservation Association
• Team of Green Field Ark, Beijing Green Cross Center of Ecological Cultural Communications
• PEFC China Initiative
• European Forest Institute FLEGT Asia Program
• China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association
• Anti-counterfeiting Packaging Committee of China Packaging Federation
• Chinese Academy of Forestry
• Beijing Forestry University
• Hebei Agricultural University
• Forest Survey and Planning Design Institute, State Forestry Administration
• Division of Certification Management, Science and Technology Development Centre of State Forestry Administration, China
• China Forest Certification Council (CFCC)
From the 2012 London Summer Olympics to the 2013 Fiemme Nordic Ski World Championships to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics: The sports world is becoming increasingly conscious of
its potential contribution to sustainable forest management, with wood-based materials at the 2013 Nordic World Ski Championship originating from PEFC-certified forests.
With Nordic sports taking place in and around forests, the move to promote sustainable forestry is a natural one for the organizers of the 2013 Championships, which will be taking place in
Val di Fiemme, the Fiemme Valley, in the Trentino region in Northern Italy. In fact, PEFC-certified forests will provide the backdrop for the 2013 Championship events, making the link between the sports and responsible forestry ever more obvious.
"The Nordic World Ski Championships are an excellent opportunity to inform the public about the benefits of sustainable forestry and highlight the importance of forest certification. Millions of people will be able to see – on TV and live at the events - the beauty of the PEFC-certified spruce forests of Val Di Fiemme,
and they will be able to contribute to safeguarding them by looking for the PEFC logo next time they buy wood-based products," said Francesco Dellagiacoma, Vice President of PEFC Italy. "We therefore commend the organizers of the 2013 Nordic World Ski Chamionships in Val di Fiemme for committing to procuring certified,
sustainably sourced material, including brochures, posters, stationary, tissue as well as toilet paper.
Fiemme 2013, as the event is coined, will be taking place from 20 February to 3 March at various locations in Val di Fiemme and includes cross country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the President of the Fiemme 2013 Organising Committee, Peter Degodenz, and the Chairman of PEFC Italy, Pier Luigi Ferrari, further specifies the use of local materials and companies to minimize
carbon emissions and in support of the economy of the Trentino region. To this end, PEFC Italy will calculate the CO2 savings made possible thanks to the use of locally-sourced, certified material.
Prominent wooden structures, including sports facilities and the awards stage where athletes will receive their medals are made of wood from local PEFC-certified forests and are in the process of obtaining PEFC Project Chain of custody certification.
The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic will follow the examples set by the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 Nordic World Ski Championships and specify certification for wood-based materials.
PEFC is currently working on a minor revision of the COC standard in order to facilitate PEFC COC holders to meet the EUTR requirements,
which will be enforced from coming March. For facilitating Japanese PEFC COC holders and other companies related to this matter to understand the requirements better,
PEFC Asia Promotions has prepared a Japanese translation of the document which provides the details of the requirements and available in the UK government webpage.
Please note that the document is an extraction from the UK government (CPET) webpage and should be used only as a referential material and that PEFC Asia Promotions does not take responsibility for the content and the translation.
The URL of the relative webpage is the following;
http://www.cpet.org.uk/eutr.
「欧州連合木材規制要求事項」(EUTR Requirements)
“We identified PEFC as our partner of choice for international recognition after careful consideration of available options,” said Wang Wei, CFCC Chairman.
“The PEFC standard represents best practice in forest management, is based on the latest scientific findings, and respects national sovereignty.
PEFC is unique in considering the needs of the specific forest ecosystems present in a particular country, the legal and administrative frameworks, and the socio-cultural context, which is important for China. ”
“PEFC is the only global forest certification system that verifies the compliance of national forest certification systems with PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks through independent assessments,” emphasized Mr Wang.
“It is this combination of consideration of local circumstances on the one hand and national ownership on the other hand, coupled with rigour in implementation, which makes PEFC attractive to us.”
PEFC rules stipulate that national forest certification systems that want to be recognized by PEFC must comply with its Sustainability Benchmarks, a suite of requirements for a range of issues related to forest certification,
from standards development processes and sustainable forest management requirements themselves through to Chain of Custody, logo use and accreditation requirements. Compliance is verified through an independent assessment.
The global stakeholder consultation is an important part of the assessment, enabling all interested parties to provide insights and information on the system’s compliance with PEFC requirements.
Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments using PEFC's Online Consultation Tool by 19 February 2013.
The toolkit is available at PEFC Council's website. (http://consultations.pefc.org/consult.ti/CFCSassessment/consultationHome
On this trip to Japan, Mr. Gunneberg emphasized and left the following three messages to the Japanese stakeholders;-
1. Japanese stakeholders should be aware that Japan, being one of the world’s largest importers of wood, has a huge potential for playing the key role in the global promotion of sustainable forest management and exercise leadership in this movement.
2. For promoting forest certification in Japan, it is essential that the society’s and consumers’ demand for forest certification should increase based upon the proper knowledge and understanding of the forest values and forest certification. For this purpose PEFC logo must be used more actively and frequently by PEFC-certified companies.
3. There are some cases where only one specific forest certification system is accepted in an organisation’s procurement policy. However, such organisation should be aware that an exclusive policy like that contains a risk of discouraging the orderly global expansion of forest certification as a whole and putting a
brake on the further promotion of sustainable forest management and maintain an inclusive policy which accepts all certification systems equally.
PEFC Italy was established in April 2012 in Perugia, which is well known for chocolates, but best known among Japanese as a city where famous soccur player Hidetoshi Nakata used to play.
PEFC Italy’s activities aim to increase the social awareness of forest
products with legal and sustainable origin through such certified products
and play the role of bridge between sustainable forest management and consumers.
As an example of consumer products that are easier for consumers’ understanding,
we promote PEFC-certified Non Wood Forest Products (such as Truffles, Honey,
Essential oils, beer with forest aroma) in addition to certified wood products.
We are promoting wood eye-glasses made with wood coming from PEFC certified
Dolomite forests. PEFC also develops promotion activities through many
fairs and contests. Among such events, one particularly famous is Lucca
Comics &Games where the Japanese culture is very present. Many of the
local Mangas are inspired by Japanese Mangas and PEFC certified paper is
used.
It is expected that PEFC-certified paper is used for Mangas in Japan, too.
A specific type of Mediterranean forest found in the Iberian Peninsula is the dehesa, old forest dominated by holm oaks and cork trees. Dehesa forests resulted from
the conversion of forests by human activity over the course of history where instead of representing a negative or exploitative force, man’s influence has played a positive role in the development of the ecosystem.
In a well-managed dehes, livestock farming, hunting, cork production and tourism, exist alongside and are compatible with biodiversity conservation, habitat preservation and protection of species.
For many years, Acción Forestal has been acting as a consultant to livestock farmers in southern Spain advising them on how best to care for forests so that they yield top-quality forest products. In 2007,
the organization set up a PEFC group forest certification system that includes more than 80 plantations, covering an area of more than 30,000 ha. Under this system private dehesa forests are managed according to PEFC requirements.
“The PEFC certification of d
Dehesas has promoted soil conservation and regulation of the water cycle by preventing erosion, maintaining higher environmental humidity, preserving the fauna and flora and using forests as a carbon sink. Taken together these offer high levels of sustainability and stability in ecological and productivity terms,” explained forestry engineer and company manager, Andrés Domínguez, who has more than 20 years’ experience of ecosystem management.
Among the several products yielded by a well-managed d
Dehesa, the Iberian pig is one of the most sought after. It is coveted for its fine breed, selection and feed which includes nutritious acorns rich in sugar, fibre and protein.
These characteristics combine to offer a jamón ibérico which is distinguished not only by its unequalled texture, aroma and taste but also by its beneficial anti-oxidant properties.
Today, there is growing demand among consumers for healthier and natural products typical of the Mediterranean diet, and produced using environmentally friendly practices. This has inspired Acción Forestal
to develop a project for the certification and commercialization of non-timber products from certified forests: DELAFORESTA: IBÉRICOS PROCEDENTES DE BOSQUES SOSTENIBLES (Delaforesta: Iberian Products from Sustainable Forests).
One of the first products to achieve certification is the hams made from the Iberian pigs that roam the pastures and oak groves and feed on naturally produced acorns. This is the world’s first certified ham. In the future, Acción Forestal
plans to expand the range of certified forest products to offer game meat and honey.
“For us, obtaining PEFC chain of custody for Iberian products offers guarantees of better quality environmentally friendly products. It also sets them apart from other similar products making them potentially more attractive to consumers,”
comments Segundo Rodríguez, head of forest certification at Acción Foestal.
According to Andrés Dominguez, PEFC Chain of Custody certification offers guarantees about the sustainable management of the dehesas and assurances that forest-based products can be traced throughout the value chain from the forest to the market.
“We are leading all processes from selecting of the livestock right up to the final product. We work closely with local Spanish ham specialists who are responsible for processing and curing hams in a cellar.The best way to boost traditional
Iberian production and safeguard rural employment is to integrate sustainable forest management with local livestock producers’ interests.”
More information about certified hams and other certified non-timber forest products is available on the Acción Forestal website.
The manufacturer of this PEFC-certified ham recommends Japanese consumers to choose and purchase this environmentally-friendly "green" ham.
Please contact PEFC Asia Promotions for more details of this ham.
The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which enters into force in March 2013, prohibits illegally harvested timber from being placed on the EU market.
It sets out mandatory procedures for those trading in timber within the EU designed to minimise the risk of illegal timber being sold and applies to
both imported and domestically produced timber and is therefore relevant for companies globally. To comply with the requirements,
the operator’s (companies that are the first placers of timber on the European market) due diligence approach must comprise three elements inherent to risk management:
• access to information
• risk assessment
• mitigation of the risk identified
Companies seeking to meet these requirements are well advised to
opt for PEFC, which currently is the only global forest certification system
requiring that 100% of the material in certified products originates from
known sources. PEFC certified companies therefore can minimize and mitigate
the risk of any components coming from unknown sources.
A comprehensive gap analysis of PEFC’s Chain of Custody standard earlier this year indicated that small yet smart changes are required to align to it with EUTR requirements.
The revision work in the multi-stakeholder working group is well advanced, with the revised Chain of Custody standard expected to become available for public consultation in December 2012.
Approval of the final standard is scheduled for February 2013.
Companies will be able to benefit from smart changes to the standard, which will ensure that:
1. The PEFC Due Diligence System covers all material flows, certified as well as uncertified, on a mandatory basis.
2. The information requirements the PEFC Due Diligence System cover all information needs of legislative and regulatory processes such as the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), the U.S. Lacy Act and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill now in process
3. The PEFC Due Diligence System is an integral part of the PEFC Chain of Custody delivering to the principles and requirements of the EUTR and the legal obligation calling for a systematic approach to due diligence.
“The PEFC system will be well aligned with the EU TR when it enters into force in March 2013,” said Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General at PEFC International. “PEFC Chain of Custody certification is expected to become a preferred mechanism for any company that
seeks to be in compliance with EU requirements. In addition, companies benefit from PEFC certification as it provides them with access to the largest supply of certified timber at a time when markets are increasingly requesting sustainability over and above legality.”
Moving towards implementation, the EUTR requirements will be the topic of a European Commission stakeholder meeting for companies that will have to comply with the EU Timber Regulation on the 9th November.
The meeting will provide focus on further clarifications, which the Commission is intending to publish at the end of October. PEFC will participate in the meeting.
Download FAQs developed by EFI's EU FLEGT Facility
Importing and Exporting：
http://www.pefc.org/images/stories/documents/external/faqs_eutr_en-importingexporting-sept12.pdf
Due diligence, certification and enforcement of the EUTR：
http://www.pefc.org/images/stories/documents/external/faqs_eutr_en-due_diligence-sept12.pdf
The details of this PEFC News are available on the following PEFCAP website "PEFC Statements" page.
http://www.pefcasia.org/japan/about_council/statements/index-e.html
Equally important is the potential loss of their traditional forest-related knowledge and practices that have supported the livelihoods and cultures of local and indigenous communities
for centuries, while sustaining and enhancing biological diversity in forests and associated agro-ecosystems.
To access and better understand this traditional knowledge and to identify opportunities for forest certification to contribute to indigenous peoples communities,
PEFC selected a project by Kadioan for support by the 2011 PEFC Collaboration Fund. Kadioan is a Philippines-based indigenous people’s
organization tasked with promoting indigenous resource systems. The Malaysian Timber Certification Council provided additional support to the project.
The project recognized that indigenous communities have limited knowledge of forest certification yet that indigenous peoples are potentially interested in forest certification
given the benefits that it provides them with, specifically in terms of rights recognition. This includes criteria concerning free, prior and informed consent, recognition of customary and traditional rights
such as outlined in ILO 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the protection of sites with recognized historical, cultural or spiritual significance.
The project, which included indigenous communities in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, also raised awareness of group certification as a mechanism best suited for their particular needs.
“There is now certainly a better understanding of the linkages between forest certification and the sustainability of indigenous forest management systems, “ said Minnie Degawan from the International Alliance of
Indigenous and Tribal People of the Tropical Forests (IAITPFT) and member of the PEFC International Board of Directors. “Equally important, it has strengthened collaboration, which is an important enabler for group certification,
among indigenous communities, though more work is certainly needed.”
Going forward, KADIOAN intends to continue its activities – notably forums and training workshops – with indigenous communities to promote the value of certification to their livelihoods. KADIOAN will also work to link its activities to the Smallholder Group Certification
project which may offer a mechanism for small indigenous forest dwellers to become certified.
The survey specifically investigates the operational experiences of people actively involved with any aspects of bioenergy production systems.
IEA Bioenergy, an organization established by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is keen to hear from those engaged in biomass feedstock production,
conversion into primary and secondary biofuel and bioenergy products, markets and trade.
Venue : Sokuryo Nenkin Experts familiar with bioenergy based on agriculture, forestry and dedicated energy crops, and governance mechanisms
that include binding and voluntary standards, legislation, regulations and certification schemes - such as PEFC - are welcome to share their experiences.
The survey places a particular focus on the input of stakeholders on how systems can be improved to be more effective.
The survey is part of a study that aims at monitoring the actual implementation process of sustainability certification of bioenergy, evaluate how stakeholders are affected by certification initiatives,
quantify the anticipated impact on worldwide bioenergy trade, assess the level of coordination among schemes, and make recommendations to remove barriers which may depress markets and reduce sustainable trade.
This IEA Bioenergy activity coincides with the forthcoming PEFC Stakeholder
Dialogue (14 November 2012, Vienna, Austria), which will explore sustainability
issues related to expanding use of forest biomass for energy & other
industries, and the application of forest certification. The event ultimately
seeks to build stronger relationships and understanding between sectors
on sustainable forestry and promote the exchange of knowledge and available
tools.
Naturally, PEFC is exploring in how far the activities of both organization on sustainable biomass and certification may benefit from each other, with the IEA Bioenergy Annual Conference and the PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue being organized back to back in Vienna in November 2012.
Last April, PEFC submitted a complain regarding an assertion of "unsustainable harvesting" by Forestry Tasmania to the relative certification body NCSI.
In response to PEFC's request for an investigation, NCSI submitted a report on the result of the investigation on 29th June 2012.
The report pointed out that the assertion of the unsustainablity found in the Report of the Chairman of the Independent Verification Group
was based upon a misuse of some comments made by the writer of the report out of the original context and the writer of the report admitted it in the process o fthe investigation, and
concluded that the assertion was incorrect and there was no breach of AFS Standard by Forestry Tasmania.
The response letter from NCSI is available both in English and Japanese. (See below)
Please note that the Appendix A to the report is available only in English.
・English:Response from NCSI to PEFC Complaint on “Unsustainable Harvesting” by Forestry of Tasmania
・English:Appendix A
・Japanese：タスマニア林業公社による「持続不可能な伐採に」関するPEFCの苦情書への回答
These are some of the outcomes of the most recent Living LOHAS survey, an annual general population consumer research programme
that has been researching the "green" market in Australia since 2005, surveying over 40,000 Australians.
"LOHAS" stands for "Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability" and describes individuals who seek to integrate healthier,
more sustainable product and service options into their lives. Globally, LOHAS accounts for more than 120 million consumers estimated to be worth in excess of US$ 550 billion annually.
The survey results send a clear signal to companies that adding the PEFC label to certified products provides them with competitive advantages over uncertified, non-labelled products:
If two products were alike, yet one had an eco-label, almost 80% of Australians would be "strongly" or "somewhat" influenced in their purchasing decision if they were considering environmentally friendly options.
• The survey results were presented at the recent 2012 National Wood Products
Forum and Workshop, on the eve of PEFC International's Australian Certification
Roadshow, which will be featuring PEFC Secretary General Ben Gunneberg
at six events across Australia from 12-21 June 2012
• Sydney, Tuesday 12 June, PEFC Certification Seminar for Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Printers
• Perth, Wednesday 13 June, PEFC Certification Seminar for Architects,Developers, Builders & the Timber Industry
• Adelaide, Thursday 14 June, PEFC Certification Seminar for Architects, Developers, Builders and the Timber Industry
• Hobart, Friday 15 June, PEFC Certification Seminar for Forests and the Timber industry
• Melbourne, Tuesday 19 June, PEFC Certification Seminar for Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Printers
• Sydney,Thursday 21 June, PEFC Certification Seminar for Architects, Developers, Builders & the Timber Industry
PEFC Council calls on FSC to focus on sustainable forest management, rather than continuing argues about minutia based upon misunderstanding,
and work together for addressing the twin problem of poverty and deforestation through promoting sustainable forest management into the world.
The details of this call is available below in both English and Japanese.
- English
- Japanese
North America's PEFC-endorsed forest certification Standard,SFI, encourages all stakeholders to participate
in the public comments which is currently undergoing with regard to the revision of USGBC's LEED credits for
requesting LEED to recognise all forest certification schemes such as SFI and ATFS.
The SFI statement is available on "PEFC Statements" page of this website.
The Antalis Group is the European leader and fourth largest distributer of paper, printing supplies and
packaging in the world. The company's Director of Marketing and Sustainable Development at Antalis France takes stock of
PEFC certification based upon his experience during the past 4 years.
The report of this story is available on "PEFC Case Stories" Page of this webpage.
PEFC notes with concern assertions made in the Report of the Chairman of the Independent Verification Group of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement
(TFIA) concerning unsustainable harvesting yields carried out in the forestry holdings of Forestry Tasmania.(3 Apr 2012)
A claim of unsustainable harvesting is a serious matter and requires urgent investigation concerning potential non-compliances with the requirements set out by the PEFC-endorsed Australian Forestry Standard (AFS).
The PEFC complaint letter is avaialable both in English and Japanese. (below)
- PEFC Complaint Letter(English)
- PEFC Complaint (Japanese)
Upon receipt of the result of the research, PEFC will publisize it in its website.
Earlier this month, global fashion brand Zara inaugurated its most sustainable shopping outlet to date in New York City.
Located on Manhattan's iconic 5th Avenue, the new shop spans more than 32,000 square feet, spread over three floors.
As part of the company's long-term commitment to sustainability, the store includes a wide range of eco-friendly fixtures and fittings
All the wood fixtures and fittings – panels, changing room walls, shelves – used in the new shop are made from PEFC-certified wood
ensuring that it comes from sustainably-managed forests. Its paper-based shopping bags also bear the PEFC seal while its plastic bags are biodegradable.
The shop's brochures and catalogues will also be printed on certified paper
Other 'green' features of the shop include motion detectors in the store room which dim the lights by up to 80% when no-one is present;
similar detectors are also installed in the toilets and corridors, leading to important savings in energy. Similarly, the shop's lighting will
dim to 66% of its capacity outside of trading hours and during deliveries ensuring further savings. In addition to these features, the shop is equipped
with efficient heating and air-conditioning systems and includes special thermostats to prevent
energy spikes at times of heavy demand. Electronically-regulated curtains at the shop's entrances will prevent influxes of cold or hot air from outside, depending on the season.
As a result of all these measures, it is predicted that the shop will consume 30% less energy per annum than a conventional shop, use 70% less water and prevent atmospheric emissions
Zara is part of the Inditex Group of retailers that has developed a long-term strategy for sustainable development that includes measures for reducing energy consumption both in its products and in its retail outlets.
In addition, as part of this strategy, the Group will seek to encourage environmental awareness and promote reuse and recycling of its paper and packaging. The design and outfitting of the new Zara retail outlet dovetails
with the measures set out in the Inditex Group's Corporate Social Responsibility Strategic Environmental Plan for the 2011-2015 period.
Based upon the recognition of the slowed pace of growth of forest certification, PEFC calls for collaborations among those who represent different interests
for further development of forest certification in its statement included in PEFC Newsletter of January 2012.
PEFC emphasises on the importance of the balance among the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, economic),
instead of focusing primarily on one pillar.
For viewing this document, please access to "PEFC Statement" page of this website.
For clarifying the concerns of the stakeholders, PEFC Council submitted an official complaint against the relevant certification body SGS, based on recent Greenpeace’s
allegation about the presence of logs from Ramin trees in APP’s PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper mill in order to request an investigation. The result of the
investigation will be publicized once it has become available. The PEFC complaint is available below;
- PEFC Complaint (English)
- PEFC Complaint (Japanese)
PEFC International is pleased to announce the endorsement of the Ireland Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management,
which has become the first Irish forest certification system to gain global recognition.
“Irish stakeholders have for years been engaged in the development of requirements and criteria for responsible forestry,
yet it has been difficult to find consensus between the different interests,” explain William Merivale, Secretary General of PEFC Ireland.
“This is why we are so proud to have been able to successfully establish a national standard, drafted in a multi-stakeholder, participatory process
National forest certification systems that have developed standards in line with PEFC requirements can apply for endorsement by PEFC International. To achieve endorsement,
they need to meet PEFC's Sustainability Benchmarks, which are based on broad societal consensus expressed in international, intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder processes and guidelines.
Compliance is confirmed through third-party assessment of national requirements with the international benchmarks, with a global public consultation seeking input from stakeholders worldwide.
The endorsement of the PEFC Irish standard coincides with private Irish forestry coming of age. Over the past 25 years 240,000 hectares of private woodland in the country has been established, and this considerable area of forest,
planted in the 1980s and 1990s, is now reaching prime harvesting age. This will provide a huge increase in the private sector’s timber supply.
With this potential increase in supply, the major panel and sawmills have expressed the view that private forest owners need to become certified as quickly as possible,
and indicated that they were taking steps towards applying for PEFC certification.
“With more and more companies and public sector organizations requiring certification as evidence for sustainable sourcing, gaining international recognition through PEFC is a much needed development in support of the Irish forest sector,” emphasized Mr. Merivale.
Electricity consumers in Spain are shortly to take advantage of renewable energy produced from PEFC-certified biomass.
Valoriza Energía has recently obtained PEFC Chain of Custody certification for three of its plants in Andalusia with
a combined capacity of 33.8 megawatts, sufficient to provide electricity to an equivalent of more than 23,000 households per year.
For viewing the full text of the statement, please refer to the document below.
Valoriza Energía, which is part of the Sacyr Vallehermoso Group, is committed to utilizing forest biomass in a responsible manner and obtained
PEFC certification to demonstrate the sustainability of the high volume of biomass it procures.
"We have noticed that energy companies are becoming increasingly interested in ensuring that the biomass they are using is PEFC-certified," said Michael Berger, Head of Technical Unit,
PEFC International. "This is an important development: For forest biomass to be renewable, it must originate form forests that are managed sustainably."
Forest biomass in electricity production decreases carbon emissions because the carbon in biomass is regarded as part of the natural carbon cycle: trees take in carbon dioxide from
he atmosphere and convert it into biomass and released it back into the atmosphere when they decompose naturally or are burned for biomass production.
"PEFC certification ensures that the forests from which the biomass originates are managed in a responsible manner, maintaining their capacity to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits,
" Mr. Berger emphasized.
Dato'Dr. Freezailah, Chairman of the Malaysian forest certification scheme, MTCC, gave a presentation representing PEFC
at Asia Pacific Forestry Week held last November in Beijing and expresesed PEFC's expectation for the potential
important role that China could play for developing new approaches for sustainable forest management based upon
its over 5,000 years' hstory and culture.
For viewing the full text of the statement, please refer to the document below.
-PEFC Statement
PEFC’s International Chain of Custody standard will ensure that PEFC-certified companies meet
the requirements of the forthcoming EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which will enter into force in March 2013.
he EUTR will make it illegal to place illegally harvested timber and timber products on the EU market.
The legislation will require that due diligence is applied to all timber first placed on the EU market
and also that traders, further down the supply chain, keep track of who timber or timber products were bought from,
and where applicable, who they were sold to. The regulation will apply to everyone trading timber and timber products in the EU,
including paper, furniture, wood fuel etc., therefore affecting thousands of companies of any size producing timber domestically or
importing it from outside the EU.
The PEFC Board of Directors decided to revise the PEFC International Chain of Custody Standard to ensure that all certified companies
meet the EU TR requirements. In close coordination with the EU Commission, PEFC has performed a gap analysis as input for the Chain of Custody
working group on the 1st February 2012.
“PEFC-certified companies can be confident that the EUTR requirements will be covered through their Chain of Custody certification,” said Michael Berger, Head of Technical Unit at PEFC International. “PEFC certification may also be the most straightforward option for currently uncertified companies to meet the EUTR requirements.”
PEFC Poland proudly announced that by the end of 2011 the total area of PEFC-certified forests reached 4 million HAs
and this figure will grow more in 2012.
PEFC International released PEFC Statement dated 23rd December 2011 to express its support to the statement issued by
the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) on 22nd December 2011.
The AFS statement introduced the standard’s requirements which are related to the protection of forest biodiversity values.
Referring to the claim recently made by a local NGO in relation to this subject, the statement pointed out that much of such claim is
based upon misunderstanding and presented the definition of AFS’s concept of Significant Bio-diversity Values
and Old Growth Forests such as the following;
1. There is no common clear definition of “High Conservation Value” or “Primeval Forests”, therefore these words are not used in AFS which is a national standard.
However, the concept which is likely represented by such words are recognised and protection of such concepts are included in the standard.
2. AFS adopts its own concept of Significant Bio-diversity Values (SBDV) with regard to the protection of forest biodiversity.
3. There is a specific definition of “Old Growth Forests” adopted in the standard. This allows an agreed national interpretation of Old Growth Forest, which is not equivalent to “primeval forests”.
For Japanese translation of these document, please refer to the document below.
-AFS Statement
-PEFC Statement
Kindly note that the Japanese translations of these documents are for a referential use only and not the formal documents.
Although better known for its wines, Italy is also home to many small artisanal breweries producing high quality beers. One of these,
the Foglie d'Erba brewery in Forni, Friuli Dolomites, has chosen to use only PEFC-certified raw materials and fair trade spices
in its beers as part of efforts to combine quality and taste with environmental protection and human rights.
Situated on the border between Friuli and Alto Adige in the Dolomites, the Foglie d'Erba brewery is a small artisanal operation producing high quality,
home brewed beers. It has an annual production of about 6,000 bottles of four different beers: What sets these beers apart from others is that all are made from
ingredients sourced from the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park and its certified forests.
The owner of the Foglie d'Erba brewery, Gino Perissutti notes, "The products we use are strictly sourced locally.
With this beer, I want to demonstrate that quality products, environmental protection and social awareness can go hand-in-hand."
It is this which motivated the beer producer to use only resins and pine needles from two PEFC-certified forests. The certification provides assurances
that the forests are sustainably managed.
"In my industry, this choice alone has no immediate commercial impact. But it creates curiosity among customers, and increases their desire to taste the product
and to assess its quality. While we still need to explain the unique ingredients and philosophy of our beer, it helps people understand that it is possible
to make good use of the land and resources that nature has given us," Mr. Perissutti explains.
In addition to taking on-board environmental concerns, the brewer has also considerate of social issues: the sugar and spices used in the beers come from fair trade sources.
This has earned the brewery a special mention in the recently published 2011 Slow Food guide dedicated to the best Italian artisanal beers where
its beers were singled out as products that "get closest to the concepts of good, clean and right". And it was awarded "Best Anglo-American origin hoppy beers" in early 2011.
The Dutch Timber Procurement Assessment Committee (TPAC) confirmed yesterday
that PEFC International complies with the Dutch Public Procurement Criteria for Timber.
The Committee rejected a complaint filed by five Dutch non-governmental organizations as unsubstantiated and concluded that there are
“no grounds for revising its final judgement on PEFC International” and reconfirmed that
“PEFC International provides the guarantee that national systems comply with the TPAS criteria.”
TPAC was set up by in 2007 to assess certification systems for sustainable forest management against the Dutch Procurement Criteria for Timber within the context
of the Dutch Public Procurement Policy. It assessed PEFC as conforming to the Dutch Procurement
Criteria for the Dutch market in 2010. Out of eighteen principles, PEFC achieved a score of 2
(the highest score) for fifteen principles and a score of 1 for three principles.
Five Dutch civil society organisations filed a complaint against this judgement, WWF Netherlands (Wereld Natuur Fonds),
Greenpeace (Stichting Greenpeace), Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples,
NCIV (Stichting Nederlands Centrum voor Inheemse Volken),
the Dutch Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation (ICCO),
and Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Vereniging Milieudefensie).
TPAC writes that “it has thoroughly assessed PEFC International […]. Based on this thorough assessment,
TPAC concludes that indeed PEFC International provides the guarantee that national systems comply with the TPAS criteria.”
The response to the complaint also highlights that certification systems cannot be held responsible for issues beyond their control. TPAC responds to the complaint that
PEFC decision making bodies do not comprise certain interested groups that “interested groups often voluntarily choose not to participate in
the PEFC decision making bodies in spite of being invited. This may also be caused by the fact that FSC International does not allow
its Board members to also participate in the decision making bodies of another certification system.”
While TPAC did not comprehensively assess the revised PEFC standards, the Committee noted that they represents a further strengthening of
the PEFC requirements especially concerning two of three principles for which PEFC did not score full points, the rights of indigenous peoples
(TPAS Principle 2) and the protection of biodiversity (TPAS Principle 4).
Both parties are entitled to lodge a complaint against the decision within six weeks.
PEFC Council Chairman Mr. Bill Street encouraged stakeholders' particiaption in promotion of
global dialogue on sustainable forest management, and published the following message.
Almost 20 years ago, the world's governments failed to protect our forests.
Their failure has been our challenge, and millions of people around the world have been working harder to save the world's green lung.
The Rio Forest Certification Declaration is based on the idea that a common set of principles is needed, a set of principles that provides guidance
to all of us about what is needed to better promote forest certification and its continuous growth to advance sustainable forest management.
Much like forests, ideas sometimes take a long time to grow. Over time, they become more complex and diverse and eventually reach maturity.
The sustainable management of the world’s forests is one of these ideas.
The Idea of ‘Sustainability’
The idea of sustainable forest management is based on the concept of ‘sustainable development’ and rests on three integrated and equally important pillars: environmental soundness,
social justice, and economic viability.
We know now that missing out or not paying sufficient attention to any one of these crucial elements will seriously undermine the chances of success of achieving sustainability in forest management just as in development.
The concept of ‘sustainable development’ and the interrelationship of its three pillars was originally popularized in the 1987 Brundtland report, yet it was at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 where the idea finally took hold.
Spreading the Word
The message coming out of the Rio Earth Summit — that nothing less than a transformation of our attitudes and behaviour would bring about the necessary changes — was heard by millions around the world.
The message reflected the complexity of the problems facing us, and governments recognized the need to redirect international and national plans and policies to ensure
that all economic decisions fully took into account environmental and social impacts.
The Summit’s Outcomes
The Summit resulted in a total of five documents that have fundamentally influenced the way our global society views sustainable development.
The overarching document, the Rio Declaration, defines the rights of people to development, and their responsibilities to safeguard the common environment.
The Agenda 21 has become a blueprint for action by all types of organizations and initiatives globally, nationally, and locally. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have become legally binding documents.
The Birth of Forest Certification
The fifth document, the Forest Principles, is the least known one, yet with its preamble stating that «Forests are essential to economic development and the maintenance
of all forms of life», its relevance to the overall concept of sustainable development appears self-evident. Governments, however, could not agree
on a globally enforceable framework for sustainable forestry.
The challenges facing the world’s forests, and the inability of governments to act, resulted in the birth of
the idea of forest certification. This voluntary mechanism provided forest owners with a framework
to implement the spirit of the Forest Principles, with guidance of how to manage forests sustainably,
and with the opportunity to demonstrate and validate their responsibly practices through independent certification.
Over time, forest certification has become one of the most important tools for global society to promote sustainable forest management.
Yet the movement has stalled: Only nine percent of the world’s forests are certified, and the United Nations have warned that
the once-rapid growth of forest-certification efforts has stagnated during the past years.
Rio Forest Certification Declaration
The Rio Forest Certification Declaration, launched in 2010 in Rio, is based on the idea that a common set of principles is needed,
a set of principles that provides guidance
It recognizes in its preamble that "The challenge of safeguarding the environmental, social and economic benefits that the world’
s forests provide is critical for life on Earth. It requires a world in which people manage forests sustainably, a world that recognizes the integral
and interdependent nature of our planet, a world that acknowledges and values the significance of rural communities, indigenous peoples,
and families that depend on forests for their livelihoods" and states ten principles as a common framework
to maximize the benefits that forest certification can offer to society.
The Rio Forest Certification Declaration picks up on ideas that have previously emerged in other documents,
including the 1992 Rio Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Agenda 21, the UN Charter,
and the Forest Principles, to establish a framework that all stakeholders should be able to support.
Join the Movement
It is supported by amongst others the PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, the world’s largest forest certification organization
and the certification system of choice for small- and family forest owners.
I invite all of you - as individuals or as representative of civil society, business, or governments, to support the Rio Forest Certification Declaration with your signature.
The Rio Forest Certification Declaration will be presented with all signatures at the 2012 Rio Earth Summit.
to all of us about what is needed to better promote forest certification and its continuous growth to advance sustainable forest management.
Bill Street, PEFC Chairman
PEFC Council criticized the recent FSC's comparative analysis of PEFC criteria against FSC Control Wood criteria. PEFC Council Secretary General, Ben Gunneberg said, "There are differences in approaches by the world's leading forest certification organizations, but this should not distract from their core missions, the promotion of responsible forestry."
For viewing PEFC's comment, please go to PEFC Council website.
The Japanese translation of this document 
is available at our Japanese page.
