SFI certification process

Embark on your certification journey by completing our service request form or reaching out to us directly. Our experts will navigate you through the certification scope that aligns best with your company setup and needs. The process outlined below covers SFI Forest Management, Chain of Custody, Fiber Sourcing and Urban and Community Forest Sustainability certifications.

Step 1: Application process
Initiate the process by submitting a service application to Preferred by Nature. This information shapes a budget proposal and certification agreement tailored to your organization.   

Step 2: Certification preparation
To meet SFI's requisites, preparing documents, establishing systems, assigning responsibilities to your team, and training your staff may be some actions that are taken. This stage requires you to hold, or be in the process of obtaining, SFI Program Participant status. The final certification decision is conditional upon achieving this status.

Step 3: Assessments 
Onsite assessments are conducted, their duration determined by factors such as audit scope, operational size, accessibility and complexity. These audits typically include interviews, document reviews and field visits. 

Step 4: Audit report
We provide a comprehensive audit report detailing the results. Non-conformities are outlined, with major ones needing correction before certification issuance.

Step 5: Earning certificate
Following quality review and your input, you will receive the summary audit report. Upon a favorable certification decision, the certificate is granted. 

SFI certificates are valid for a five-year period. For SFI Forest Management, Fiber Sourcing, and Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standards, certification is based on a two-stage initial assessment, followed by annual surveillance audits to maintain the certificate. In contrast, SFI Chain of Custody certification involves a single audit process. To remain certified, you must continue to meet the relevant requirements. Preferred by Nature helps ensure you stay informed of any updates to the system through regular communication.

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.

Jump to a specific section:

• SFI Forest Management Certification
• SFI Chain of Custody Certification
• SFI Certified Sourcing Certification
• SFI Fiber Sourcing Certification
• SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Certification
• Multiple sites certification

SFI Forest Management Certification

The SFI Forest Management Standard applies to any organization in the United States or Canada that owns or has management authority over forestlands. The requirements encompass a range of measures aimed at safeguarding water quality, conserving biodiversity, preserving wildlife habitat and protecting threatened and endangered species, along with Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value.

SFI Chain of Custody Certification

The SFI 2022 Chain of Custody Standard applies to any organization that sources, processes, manufactures, handles, trades, converts or prints forest-based products.

Within this main standard, specific criteria may or may not apply to every company, depending on the activities performed at each certified site. For example, three options exist for tracking certified material and making claims. Companies may maintain physical separation of certified material (the transfer system) or mix certified and non-certified inputs under the percentage and volume credit systems.

The SFI 2022 Chain of Custody Standard and associated labels, implemented together with the SFI Rules for Use of On-Product Labels and Off-Product Marks, deliver a reliable and credible mechanism so businesses can provide this assurance to customers.

SFI Certified Sourcing Certification

The SFI 2022 Certified Sourcing Standard outlines the requirements for using the SFI Certified Sourcing label. This label indicates that the fiber comes from a company certified to the SFI 2022 Fiber Sourcing Standard, from recycled content, or from a certified forest — and that all sources are non-controversial as defined in the standard.

The standard applies to both primary producers, who source at least 50% of their wood-based raw materials directly from primary sources, and secondary producers, who source at least 50% from secondary sources. Certified organizations must implement measures to avoid controversial sources in the supply chain.

The Certified Sourcing Standard provides a mechanism for organizations to demonstrate that their fiber sourcing supports legal, responsible, and sustainable practices, in line with the requirements defined in the SFI 2022 Standards and Rules.

SFI Fiber Sourcing Certification

The SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard strategically targets millions of landowners through promotion, education, training and outreach.

Sources within the United States & Canada
SFI-certified organizations must comply with applicable laws while broadening responsible forestry. This includes addressing biodiversity conservation for Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value in purchased stumpage harvests and engaging qualified logging professionals, certified logging professionals and resource professionals.

Organizations must also invest in forestry research, science and technology, alongside developing verifiable monitoring systems to assess best management practices across the wood and fiber supply area.

Sources from jurisdictions outside North America
Particularly for regions lacking effective laws, SFI-certified organizations must conduct a risk assessment to avoid controversial sources and illegal logging-related fiber. They must also promote biodiversity hotspots and high biodiversity wilderness area conservation.

Although the risk of illegal logging in the United States and Canada is low, the market demands risk assessments across the entire supply chain. The SFI 2022 Fiber Sourcing Standard mandates risk assessment for illegal logging, regardless of origin.

SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Certification

This certification is designed for organizations that manage or are responsible for urban or community forests, defined broadly to include parks, street trees, campuses, natural areas, and other green spaces in urban or peri-urban areas.

There are five certification options available under this Standard:

1. Full Urban Forest Certification: Covers all 16 objectives, performance measures and indicators.
2. Community Well-being and Human Health: Focuses on community engagement, human health, Indigenous participation, communications, legal compliance, and reporting.
3. Environmental and Conservation Leadership: Targets biodiversity, resource stewardship, forest health, protection of special sites.
4. Climate and Disaster Resilience: Addresses climate-smart management, disaster preparedness, wood utilization, and research.
5. Urban Forest Improvement: Centers on planning, urban forest care, capacity building, and resilience.

Note: Only fiber from forests certified to all 16 objectives is considered certified forest content under SFI for supply chain claims.

Multiple sites certification

Organizations wishing to include more than one site or forest area in their certification will need to conform to the multi-site requirements per SFI Section 10 and IAF MD1: 2018. 

Jump to a specific section:

• SFI Forest Management Certification
• SFI Small-Scale Forest Management Module for Indigenous Peoples and Families
• SFI Chain of Custody Certification
• SFI Certified Sourcing Standard
• SFI Fiber Sourcing Certification
• SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

SFI Forest Management Standard

The SFI Forest Management Standard applies to any organization in the United States or Canada that owns or has management authority over forestlands. The requirements encompass a range of measures aimed at safeguarding water quality, conserving biodiversity, preserving wildlife habitat and protecting threatened and endangered species, along with Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value.

In the 2022 version, the SFI integrates a new objective to recognize and respect Indigenous People's rights. SFI-certified organizations are encouraged to engage and collaborate with local Indigenous and Tribal groups to gain insights into their traditional forest management practices.

>> Access the Standard

SFI Small-Scale Forest Management Module for Indigenous Peoples and Families

Tailored for Canadian landowners, this SFI module offers group or individual certification options, promoting cost-efficiency through collaboration. Certification is available for small-scale forests managed by Indigenous Peoples, families, or communities, with a timber production area not exceeding 20,000 hectares. Certification coverage may exceed 20,000 hectares when considering non-timber-producing areas and those managed for conservation or recreation. Requirements align with the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard, adjusted for forest size and intensity. To claim SFI label compliance, both the group manager and members need third-party audits from an accredited certification body.

>> Access the Standards

SFI Chain of Custody Standard

The SFI Chain of Custody Standard provides a robust solution through its associated labels. The Standard is an accounting system that tracks certified forest fiber content from production through manufacturing, ultimately reaching the finished product. This Standard applies to any organization involved in sourcing, processing, manufacturing, handling, trading, converting or printing forest-based products.

Companies can make informed claims about the extent of certified lands, certified sourcing and/or recycled content in their products. SFI-labelled products must exclude fiber sourced from areas lacking effective social laws.

>> Access the Standard

SFI Certified Sourcing Standard

The SFI Certified Sourcing Standard sets the requirements for sourcing fiber that does not originate from controversial sources. It covers material sourced from certified forests, recycled content, or from companies certified to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. The Standard applies to manufacturers operating in North America that meet the criteria for either primary or secondary producers, based on their supply mix. It includes provisions to avoid illegal logging and supports transparency through label use requirements.

>> Access the Standard

SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard

The SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard applies to organization that directly procure wood from forests, even if they do not own or manage the land. SFI-certified organizations must show that the raw material in their supply chain comes from legal and responsible sources, whether certified or not. Primary producers must be third-party audited and certified to the SFI 2022 Fiber Sourcing Standard.

The fiber sourcing requirements include measures to expand biodiversity, adopt forestry best management practices for water quality protection, outreach to landowners, and engagement of forest management and harvesting professionals. The Fiber Sourcing Standard extends to organizations in the United States and Canada procuring wood either domestically or globally.

>> Access the Standard

SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

The SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard supports the responsible planning, management and care of trees and forests in urban and community settings. It applies to a broad range of organizations across North America that own or manage green spaces, including municipalities, universities, healthcare facilities, Indigenous and community groups, and corporate campuses.

The Standard includes 16 sustainability objectives, covering areas such as biodiversity conservation, human health, urban forest vitality, climate resilience, disaster readiness, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and community engagement. It is the first urban forest certification of its kind in North America.

>> Access the Standard