Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
SFI as an organisation is the PEFC national member for the USA. There are two endorsed forest certification systems operational in the USA: the SFI system (SFI) and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).
The SFI forest certification system is also operational in in Canada.
SFI system information
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) was first endorsed in 2005 and has been re-endorsed a further two times. The system maintained its endorsement in December 2021.
2021 system elements
| Sustainable forest management standard | Yes |
| Sustainable forest management standard (plantation) | No |
| Sustainable forest management standard (trees outside forests) | No |
| Group certification requirements | Yes |
| Chain of custody requirements (SFI Chain of Custody) | Yes |
| Certification body requirements for chain of custody (SFI requirements) | Yes |
| Full system documentation | Yes |
Endorsement milestones
To maintain its PEFC endorsement, the system must meet specific endorsement milestones. The first milestone is the start of the periodic review within five years of the national approval of the sustainable forest management standard.
- National approval date: 15 April 2021
- Review date: 15 April 2026
2020/21 system assessment
- Status: Assessment finished, system endorsement maintained
- Type: Revised system
- Assessment Report
- Assessor: TJ Consulting
- System submitted for assessment: 2 March 2021
- Consultation: 12 March - 11 May 2021
Watch the recording of the webinar to find out more about this national system.
SFI system history
- SFI Chain of Custody standard endorsed: 14 May 2022
- Full system re-endorsed: 16 December 2021
- SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard
- SFI Indigenous Peoples and Families Module
- SFI Small Lands Group Certification Module
- Small lands group certification module endorsed: 12 November 2019
- Re-endorsed: 12 August 2016
- Re-endorsed: 3 November 2011
- Endorsed: 6 December 2005
- Joined PEFC: 19 June 2001
ATFS system information
The American Tree Farm System was first endorsed in 2008 and has been re-endorsed a further two times. The system maintained its endorsement in December 2022.
2020 system elements
| Sustainable forest management standard | Yes |
| Sustainable forest management standard (plantation) | No |
| Sustainable forest management standard (trees outside forests) | No |
| Group certification requirements | Yes |
| Chain of custody requirements (SFI Chain of Custody) | Yes |
| Certification body requirements for chain of custody (SFI requirements) | Yes |
| Full system documentation | Yes |
Endorsement milestones
To maintain its PEFC endorsement, the system must meet specific endorsement milestones. The first milestone is the start of the periodic review within five years of the national approval of the sustainable forest management standard.
- National approval date: 10 November 2020
- Review date: 10 November 2025
2020-22 system assessment
- Status: Assessment finished, system endorsement maintained
- Type: Revised system
- Assessment Report
- Assessor: Indufor Oy
- System submitted for assessment: 19 March 2021
- Consultation: 14 June - 13 August 2021
Watch the recording of the webinar to find out more about this national system.
ATFS system history
- Re-endorsed: 2 December 2022
- Re-endorsed: 15 December 2017
- Re-endorsed: 23 December 2013
- Endorsed: 7 August 2008
- Joined PEFC: 19 June 2001
About SFI
History before PEFC
Founded in 1995, SFI is an independent, non-profit organisation that provides supply chain assurances, delivers conservation leadership, and supports environmental education and community engagement in the U.S. and Canada. SFI was an early member of PEFC, joining in June 2001. In 2005, the SFI Program achieved international recognition with PEFC endorsement.
At the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, we believe that sustainable forests are critical to our collective future. SFI is a sustainability leader through our work in standards, conservation, community, and education.
As an independent, non-profit organisation, SFI collaborates with a diverse network to help address local and global sustainability challenges. SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and universities.
SFI Inc. is governed by the 18-member SFI Board of Directors. Governance of SFI is structured purposefully to ensure equal voting power to environmental, social, and economic sectors. SFI Board members include executive-level representatives of conservation organizations, academic institutions, educators, public officials, Black Americans, as well as those representing worker rights, Indigenous Peoples, forest owners, managers, and the forest products sector. This diversity reflects a variety of interests in the forestry community in support of a world that values and benefits from sustainably managed forests. The SFI Board sets SFI’s strategic direction and is responsible for overseeing SFI’s work in standards, conservation, community, and education.
Additionally, through the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, which funds research and community building. Finally, Project Learning Tree (PLT), SFI’s education program advances environmental education, forest literacy and career pathways using trees and forests as windows on to the world., and Project Learning Tree®, which educates teachers and youth about forests and the environment.
Learn more: www.forests.org
What are the benefits of being part of the PEFC alliance?
Being endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification reinforces SFI’s position as an internationally respected program. Forest certification standards enhance how brands are perceived because third-party certification shows a willingness to go beyond existing regulations to address global issues like illegal logging and deforestation. International regulations are also driving increased market interest in forest certification as the simplest and most credible tool for demonstrating legality and minimizing risk in the supply chain.
The PEFC alliance provides reach and relevance of forest certification programs around the globe. SFI shares the PEFC alliance’s promotion of sustainable forest management and its recognition in the supply chain from the local to the global level. SFI is proud to be part of the PEFC alliance, an alliance that fosters and supports initiatives of members that are unique and innovative around the world.
SFI Program Participants ship products to over 90 countries around the world, and thereby also value SFI’s endorsement by PEFC.
About ATFS
History before PEFC
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is the oldest and largest sustainable woodland system in America. ATFS is a signature program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), a conservation organization that engages America's family forest landowners to deliver conservation impacts, including clean water, biodiversity protection and sustainable wood supplies.
ATFS was established almost 80 years ago and provides a community in which family landowners can learn, grow in the stewardship and connect with others. ATFS is also a thriving practitioner community, engaging more than 4,000 natural resource professionals and foresters nationwide.
What are the benefits of being part of the PEFC alliance?
Being a part of the PEFC alliance offers ATFS many benefits. The greatest of these is global recognition for the amazing stewardship and conservation impacts delivered by family landowners certified to the ATFS Standards of Sustainability. The PEFC network can provide a platform for protection and enhancement of biodiversity and delivery of clean water and sustainable fiber supplies.
PEFC endorsement of ATFS also enables wood originating on well managed forests certified to ATFS to be recognized in the global marketplace, providing access and recognition.