SFI Chain of Custody Requirements
SFI chain-of-custody certification extends into the marketplace by tracking fiber content from certified forest content, certified sourcing, and post consumer recycled content. These claims can be made based on either the physical separation or percentage-based methods. To be certified, companies must be audited to SFI Requirements: Section 3 – SFI Chain-of-Custody Standard.
All certification programs, including SFI, use the following two methods to calculate the percentage of certified fiber. Companies can also physically separate the certified forest content to make a 100 percent certified forest content claim.
- The average percentage method allows manufacturers to consistently label 100% of their products with the average percentage labels. Use of the average percentage labels requires at least 10% certified forest content. The SFI certified company must communicate the actual percent of certified forest content on the label. For example, if the SFI certified company has an average of 15% of their fiber supply from certified forests, the company must state 15% on the label.
- Under the volume credit method, a company may use an SFI label on the percentage of its output that corresponds to the average percentage of fiber in the product that comes from certified lands. This means that if 30 percent of the fiber is from certified forest content, then 30 percent of the output can be sold with the volume credit label.
The chain of custody is verified by an independent third-party certification audit. Whether it is paper, packaging, or construction materials, a claim can be made regarding the certified content, similar to recycled content claims and labels seen on products. Consumers who look for the SFI-certified content label on a product are rewarding responsible forest practices.
Documents:
SFI Requirements: Section 3 - SFI Chain of Custody Standard
Requirements for the 2010-2014 SFI Program.- full package
Interpretations for the Requirements for the SFI 2010-2014 Program
Fact-Sheet - How to certify
SFI Certification Bodies
SFI Certification Database
Frequently Asked Questions on the SFI 2010-2014 Program