From Europe to the world – the growth of PEFC

PEFC was established as a Pan-European organization, but only few years after the foundation, also non-European countries showed interest in joining - creating an interesting dilemma for us.

From Europe to the world – the growth of PEFC

22 October 2019 20th anniversary

In celebration of our anniversary, our CEO Ben Gunneberg looks back to the last 20 years and the mile stones in the PEFC history.

PEFC was established as the ‘Pan-European Forest Certification’, but only few years after the foundation, also non-European countries showed interest in the new organization.

“From very early on it was very clear to us that forest certification couldn't just be a European initiative,” Ben remembers.

“That immediately created an interesting dilemma for us. Should we remain European or should we create something larger than this? Should we be a regional scheme, or a global scheme?”

“We quickly realized, after PEFC was created, within two-three years, that the model we had was applicable worldwide. So very quickly, we became international.”

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Thorsten Arndt

Head of Advocacy

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