HOW TO CERTIFY

All SFI standards require third-party independent certification audits by competent and accredited certification bodies. All certification bodies must be accredited by a member of the International Accreditation Forum — ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) or the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).

STEP 1: Determine which SFI standard(s) applies to your organization. (Descriptions of the standards follows these steps below).

STEP 2: Complete and submit the SFI PARTICIPATION APPLICATION FORM to SFI. This includes applicants for all SFI standards, including those interested in SFI’s Small-Scale Forest Management Module for Indigenous Peoples and Families.

Note that certification bodies cannot issue an SFI certificate to an organization that does not have an approved application from SFI.

STEP 3: Prepare for an audit – ensure your operations meets SFI standard requirements and contact a third-party accredited certification body to schedule an audit.

STEP 4: Get Audited – The certification body you select will visit your operations and determine if you meet the SFI standard requirements. Your auditor will register your new certificate with SFI.

STEP 5: Sign a SFI Trademark License Agreement.

STEP 6: Use SFI Trademarks – SFI will provide the necessary artwork to use the SFI promotional and on-product labels and any certification statements to support your certification and trademark use.

SFI STANDARDS

SFI FOREST MANAGEMENT

The SFI Forest Management Standard is the largest single forest management certification standard in the world. Among its requirements are measures to conserve water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

The SFI Small-Scale Forest Management Module for Indigenous Peoples and Families applies in Canada. It’s designed for landowners and managers in Canada that want a solution for group or individual certification.

WHO CAN APPLY:
Organizations that own or have management authority for forestlands in the US and Canada. This includes industrial and family forest owners, universities, conservation groups, public agencies, timber investment management organizations and real estate investment trusts.

SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

The SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard is the first urban forest management certification standard in North America. Among its requirements are measures to address the environmental, social, and governance issues that will help ensure the sustainability of our urban forests based on 16 objectives.

WHO CAN APPLY:
Organizations that own or have management authority of urban and/or community forestlands in the US and Canada. This includes governmental organizations (i.e., municipalities, countries, states, provinces), non-governmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples, community groups, healthcare organizations, educational organizations, and corporate organizations. There is no minimum or maximum size of the urban and/or community forestland required.

SFI FIBER SOURCING

The SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard is for manufacturers that source from a variety of ownerships or that don’t own forestland. It distinguishes SFI from all other forest certification organizations in that it governs how SFI-certified organizations procure fiber from non-certified forest landowners in a responsible way, including avoidance of controversial sources in the supply chain.

The SFI Small Lands Group Certification Module is designed for any organization certified to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. This module applies in both the US and Canada. Certification to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard is a prerequisite to achieving the small lands group certification. SFI developed the Module in partnership with the American Forest Foundation (AFF).

WHO CAN APPLY:
Organizations that source roundwood or field-manufactured or primary-mill residual chips to support a forest products facility in the US and Canada.

SFI CHAIN OF CUSTODY

The SFI Chain-of-Custody Standard is an accounting system that tracks forest fiber content through production and manufacturing to the end product. This standard also has measures to avoid controversial sources in the supply chain.

WHO CAN APPLY:
Organizations that source, process, manufacture, handle, trade, convert or print forest-based products globally.

SFI CERTIFIED SOURCING

The SFI Certified Sourcing Standard contains the requirements for SFI‑certified organizations to use the SFI‑certified sourcing claim and label. This standard also has measures to avoid controversial sources in the supply chain.

WHO CAN APPLY:
Organizations that source, process, manufacture, handle, trade, convert or print forest-based products globally.

Q&A