Contact our Forestry team
Our certification teams work in regions around the world. We have issued certificates in over 70 countries, working with trained agents and auditors in each.
Chain of custody certification
We certify to chain of custody standards which are designed to demonstrate that wood-based materials have been traced at every stage of processing, from forest to end user.
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If you’re making a product using wood or paper and want to be able to demonstrate that your material is responsibly sourced and responsibly managed, you'll need chain of custody certification from either:
Benefits of chain of custody certification
Chain of custody certification demonstrates your commitment to sustainability.
As a business that processes, transforms or trades chain of custody certified products, you can use the FSC or PEFC trademarks, names and labels. You can also promote your certified status on letterheads, in email footers, on your website and in sales documents.
These are some of the most well known logos in the industry, helping consumers make informed choices.
What is needed in a chain of custody system?
To become chain of custody certified, your organisation will need to implement a management system that demonstrates how you manage the certified forest-based materials in your production. You will need to:
prepare certain documents
establish quality control of your chain of custody system
train relevant staff
A chain of custody system has a number of core components which are outlined in our guidance for applicants. Your system should be appropriate for your company, for example, a multinational company will have a much more complex system than a small company with fewer employees.
If you are new to certification, you may choose to hire a consultant who can work with you to implement a tailored system.
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How to prepare for certification
We estimate the process will take around eight to 12 weeks from the date we receive your application to when we issue your certificate. This timescale depends on many factors, including how prepared you are when you apply.
1. Application and scope
Once we have worked together to identify the scope of your certificate, we issue a contract and invoice.
2. Prepare for audit
You develop a chain of custody procedure, design a material accounting record and train staff.
3. Optional pre-assessment audit
If you feel it would be beneficial to have a practice audit before your main assessment, we can offer a pre-assessment.
The pre-assessment report will provide recommendations for improvements before your certification assessment, acting as a gap analysis before your main audit.
You can discuss this option with your Certification Officer.
4. Main assessment audit
During this step, one of our auditors will visit your site to assess what you're doing against the chain of custody standards.
Before the audit, we will work with you to define your exact scope and what product groups you will seek certification for. Once the scope is clear, we will arrange your main certification assessment.
The assessment visit will include an inspection of production units, storage facilities, administration and written documentation, according to the relevant chain of custody standards. The auditor will also interview key staff.
After the assessment visit, the auditor will write a report detailing all the observations made during the visit, listing any identified non-compliances with the standards, and describing anything that needs to be corrected.
5. Report reviewed
The auditor submits a report to Soil Association Certification, listing any non-compliances with the standards.
6. Non-compliances resolved
Your audit might highlight issues that mean a certificate can only be granted with conditions attached, or in rare instances, not at all. These are categorised as majors and minors, and carry different timescales and actions. For more information, read our guidance for applicants or discuss with your Certification Officer.
7. Certificate issued
Following the closure of any pre-conditions, your certificate is issued.
8. Surveillance audits
Your certificate will normally be valid for five years, based conditionally on successful annual surveillance audits.
Your first surveillance audit usually takes place approximately nine months after certification. After this, surveillance visits take place at least annually.
Forestry Team
Soil Association Certification
Spear House
51 Victoria Street
Bristol
BS1 6AD
United Kingdom
Soil Association Certification
Spear House
51 Victoria Street
Bristol
BS1 6AD
United Kingdom
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Photo credit: James Jones