Canada is a world leader in the development and implementation of independent, third party forest certification programs. Canadian manufacturers want their customers to have proof that the products meet the sustainability standards.


Major Third-Party Certification in the US and Canada

International Standard Organization (ISO)
  • Evaluates - environmental management systems.

  • Certification Fact - Most of B.C.'s major forest companies have certified ISO 14001 international environmental standards.
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  • Evaluates - forest practices and performance using internationally recognized criteria that are adapted to local conditions through a transparent public participation process.

  • Includes a product label and a chain of custody.

  • The Council of European Paper Industries has ranked the CSA as among the best in the world and the American Forest and Paper Association recognizes it as the functional equivalent of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

  • Certification Fact - B.C. has 5.3 million hectares (13.1 million acres) certified under the Canadian Standards Association.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
  • Evaluates - forest practices using a tough standard of environmental principles, objectives, performance measures and core indicators.

  • Guided by an independent sustainable forest board.

  • Includes a product label.

  • Certification Fact - B.C. has 9.5 million hectares (23.5 million acres) certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, developed by the American Forest and Paper Association.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  • Evaluates - forest practices using 10 guiding principles adapted to local conditions using regional standards.

  • Includes a product label and a chain of custody.

  • Certification Fact - A regional standard for B.C. has been developed but has not yet been approved by FSC International for use. As a result, few FSC certifications have occurred to date. However, 89,130 hectares (220,237 acres) in B.C. have been certified by individual FSC certifiers operating with their own checklists.
 

 

Watch the BC Sustainability Video

 
Canada has more lands managed under ISO requirements or other third-party certification than any other country in the world.  
     
     
 


Members of the Western Red Cedar Export Association provide western red cedar to Belgium, France, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and other markets around the world.
 
     
 
Web site design by Graphically Speaking in Vancouver