Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

The PEFC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent, third-party certification.

The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests. PEFC is a global umbrella organisation for the assessment and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. These national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of on-going mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world, covering 85% of the world's forest area. PEFC schemes account for over 126 million hectares of forest, producing millions of tonnes of certified timber for the market - making PEFC the world's largest certification scheme.