FSC Controlled Wood certification process

Kickstart your certification journey by completing our service request form or reaching out to us directly. Do note that the certification process differs for the FSC Controlled Wood Forest and Chain of Custody certifications.

FSC Controlled Wood Forest certification

Step 1: Certificate scope

We help you identify the scope of the certificate you need, based on your needs and company setup. A Preferred by Nature contact person will be assigned to you.

Step 2: Certification preparation

Develop or update systems and train staff to meet Controlled Wood forest requirements.

Step 3: On-site evaluation

We conduct an on-site assessment to check compliance through document reviews, field observation and interviews.

Step 4: Draft report

A formal report is prepared and reviewed by Preferred by Nature staff and sent to you for comments.

Step 5: Certification

Upon a positive outcome, we issue a Controlled Wood forest management certificate, valid for five years. Annual audits during the validity period are required to maintain certification. A re-assessment is necessary at the end of the validity period to renew the certificate.

FSC Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certification

Step 1: Understand the Standard and update systems

Ensure comprehension of the Controlled Wood Standard and update your system to meet all applicable requirements. Access our guidelines on setting up a due diligence system.

Step 2: Consider pre-assessment

Recommended if sourcing from specified risk areas or dealing with a complex supply chain. The pre-assessment identifies major gaps and evaluates readiness for full certification; an optional step but often beneficial in addressing key issues.

Step 3: Stakeholder consultation 

Required to consult with stakeholders, such as NGOs, local authorities and experts, with a public summary of your due diligence system. Stakeholders are given a minimum of six weeks to respond.

Step 4: On-site audit preparation 

We conduct a desk review of procedures before the on-site audit, identifying gaps in procedures for advanced addressing. Audit preparation involves filling out:

• Controlled Wood assessment form. 
  • Specified risk areas: Use the Controlled Wood DDS summary form (Specified risk). 
  • Low risk areas: Use the Controlled Wood DDS summary form (Low risk). 
  • Unsure about the category? Consult with the Preferred by Nature auditor.
• Supply chain management template. A list of all the companies you source material from, and who they source their material from, all the way back to the forest. Use the Supply chain management template.

Step 5: On-site evaluation

We evaluate the implementation of the system in practice during the on-site visit. This includes reviewing records, interviewing key staff, and assessing supply chain compliance. The audit may include visits to the forest and suppliers, determined ahead by the Preferred by Nature contact.

Step 6: Corrective actions

Identify gaps in the system, issuing minor or major corrective action requests. Major corrective actions must be addressed before certification, with more time provided to address minor corrective actions.

Step 7: Earning certification

Upon addressing major non-conformances, a Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certificate will be issued. A public summary of the due diligence system and audit results will also be published on the FSC database in accordance with FSC requirements.

Complaints and resolutions

If a complaint is raised about our certification services or one of our clients, we handle this in accordance with our Dispute Resolution Policy. We may call on our Impartiality Committee if Preferred by Nature’s impartiality is under question.

Sourcing Controlled Wood

You need to source Controlled Wood for FSC Mix products if:

• Your supplies of FSC-certified raw material are insufficient to sell products that consist entirely of FSC-certified material. 
• It is difficult or expensive to separate certified from non-certified material.

3 main options for sourcing Controlled Wood materials:

1. Buy from a forest with FSC Controlled Wood Forest Management Enterprises certification: Forests that have a Controlled Wood certification are listed in the FSC database. If you are sourcing wood from non-FSC certified forests, you may want to work with your suppliers to obtain Controlled Wood forest certification. 

    

2. Buy from a supplier with FSC Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certification: You can buy Controlled Wood from a company that has Controlled Wood Chain of Custody included within their FSC certification scope. Such companies can typically offer both FSC-certified products and FSC Controlled Wood products.

    

3. Obtain your own Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certification: Get in touch with our team to kickstart your certification journey. 

Restricted use of Controlled Wood claims

Public space and on-product labels cannot feature Controlled Wood claims. Instead, inform other businesses about your Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certification. Additionally, all certificates are accessible in the FSC database.

FSC Controlled Wood Standards

The latest version of the FSC Controlled Wood Standard (FSC-STD-40-005 V3-1) became mandatory in March 2017. The standard incorporates all advice notes previously communicated through the FSC Controlled Wood Directive and includes a number of additional changes.

Access the documents:

• FSC Controlled Wood Forest Management Enterprises Standard
• FSC Controlled Wood Chain of Custody Standard
• FSC Controlled Wood Directive