PEFC Council (PEFC International)

Founded in 1999, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. As an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation, it promotes sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. As a membership organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, PEFC has more than 80 members located around the world. These include 57 national members: independent, national organisations that develop and implement the PEFC system within their country. Through its endorsement process, PEFC ensures these national systems all meet its exacting international benchmark standards. PEFC provides forest owners, from the large to the small, with a tool to demonstrate their responsible practices, while empowering companies to buy sustainably. Through its group certification mechanisms, PEFC further ensures that certification is accessible to small- and family forest owners around the world. The PEFC label enables consumers to recognise products originating from a PEFC-certified forest - a forest managed in line with the strictest environmental, social, and economic requirements. In the last year, the PEFC system has been expanded to provide comprehensive certification solutions to meet new regulations and stakeholder needs, notably through the PEFC EUDR DDS and PEFC RED II certification, ensuring ongoing compliance and readiness for future demands.