FSC Project certification process

Kickstart your certification journey by completing our service request form or reaching out to us directly. Our experts will guide you through the certification scope that aligns best with your company setup and needs.

Step 1: Certificate scope  

 We help you determine the suitable certification scope tailored to your needs. Once you accept our offer, we'll assign a Preferred by Nature contact person to your organisation.

Step 2: Certification preparation 

Develop procedures for all project members, often including subcontractors. You should also provide written procedures and train all project members to follow them.

Step 3: Initial audit 

At project outset, we conduct an on-site assessment to check your compliance with the FSC Chain of Custody requirements. This is done through direct observations, document reviews and staff interviews. If you pass the initial audit, you may use FSC trademarks throughout the project’s duration.

Step 4: Subsequent audits

• Completion audit (for one-time project certification): Once the construction project is completed, we conduct a final audit to verify the project’s compliance with FSC requirements.
• Annual audit (for continuous project certification): Every year, we conduct an audit to verify the organisation’s compliance with FSC requirements and a sample of the completed projects.

 

Step 5: Obtaining certificate 

Based on a positive outcome, we issue your certificate. If major non-conformities exist, address them and undergo a verification audit. Certification provides access to using FSC trademarks with the project(s) indefinitely. For continuous project certification, the FSC certificate remains valid for five years, requiring renewal through a re-assessment once the validity period ends.

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.

Certificate scope

We can help you identify the type and scope of FSC services that suit you best. 
Below are the main options:

• One-time project certification: Certification for a single project.

   

• Continuous project certification: Certification allowing organisations to continuously obtain FSC project certification for several projects. 

   

• Full project certification: Demonstrates that all wood-based material used for the construction project is either FSC-certified, post-consumer reclaimed material or pre-consumer reclaimed paper.

   

• FSC claims on specific components of a project: Allows making claims about the use of certified timber for specified parts of the construction.

   

• Percentage claims: Allows making claims about the share of certified timber used in the project.  

Complementary services

Enhance your FSC journey with additional support:

• FSC Expert training: Join our comprehensive FSC-endorsed FSC Expert Course, where you will learn to think like an FSC auditor and acquire more comprehensive knowledge and skillsets within FSC certification.

   

• PEFC Project certification: Obtain dual FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification by engaging in both types simultaneously. We can conduct FSC and PEFC assessments in a single process.

FSC Standard for Project Certification

This standard specifies the requirements for FSC Chain of Custody certification of projects. For the purposes of this standard, a project is defined as the production or renovation of a construction or civil engineering project, or transport vehicle that is made of or contains forest-based materials.

>> Access the FSC Project Standard