Chain of Custody Certification

Any company that manufactures, processes, trades, or sells rubber products is eligible to apply for PEFC chain of custody certification. It enables you to demonstrate, to your buyers and customers, that you legally and sustainably source your natural rubber.

Why it counts to be certified

The natural rubber value chain is complex, starting with millions of plantations in mostly developing countries and ending with thousands of products that use rubber components, and enable our modern lives. This means that there is a huge range of companies that participate in this value chain, from tyre manufacturers to apparel makers.

Many of these diverse companies have already become certified. Some do so in response to legislation and regulatory requirements, while others realize the economic benefits of delivering products that have been sourced in an environmentally sustainable and ethical way. Whatever their motivations, they have chosen PEFC. 

Whatever kind of company you have, and whatever you manufacture or sell, there is a PEFC chain of custody certification for you.

It’s about regulations, and expectations

Sustainable and ethical sourcing of timber and rubber is increasingly codified by legislation, and regulation. Governments around the world are responding to the challenge of deforestation with legislation that supports the trade of certified products. The same is true for their own procurement policies, as well. The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), the U.S. Lacey Act, and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation are just some recent examples. At PEFC, we have every expectation that this trend will continue.

Expanding market access

As more regulations come into force that mandate assurances of sustainable production, PEFC certification is your way to expand market access. It is also, just as importantly, your way to meet your buyers expectations. Nearly 30 national governments have already put in place sustainable procurement policies for forest products. A growing number of private companies are also demanding proof of sustainability form their suppliers, with influential business associations like the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) encouraging companies to insist on certification. 

PEFC Chain of Custody certification is designed to allow you to both demonstrate compliance with legal requirements, and meet your buyer's expectations, giving access to these influential markets.

Tell your conversation story

When you choose PEFC Chain of Custody certification, you are making a commitment to sourcing rubber and/or rubberwood in a way that protects forests, and improves the livelihoods of smallholders around the world. For brand owners, PEFC is here to help you tell the story to your customers. The PEFC label indicates that individual products have been sourced sustainably. PEFC's Supporting Sustainable Rubber Campaign also has a wealth of additional materials that brand owners can use to tell your conservation story online, and in print media. What you've done and why it matters.

For companies large and small

There are a whole range of PEFC chain of custody certification options large and small. Are you looking to certify product your? A one-off project? Certification can be done at the individual, multi-site, group or project level. 

To learn more about how to define the scope of your certification, and what steps you need to take to get started, read our how-to for the private sector here.