Comparing SFI and FSC Certification Standards: October 2020 Page 1

COMPARING SFI AND FSC CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

The following matrix provides a comparative guide to the SFI and FSC standards.

PROVIDING BETTER CHOICES FOR THE PLANET

CRITERIA SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

PROGRAM GOVERNANCEBOARD OF DIRECTORS1 SFI and FSC both have three chamber boards that represent environmental, economic

and social interests equally. There is strong diversity on both Boards.

THIRD-PARTY AUDITS2 SFI and FSC both require mandatory 3rd party audits with accredited certification bodies.

OPEN STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESS3

SFI and FSC both include public consultation, developed by multi-stakeholder working groups.

PERFORMANCE BASED OUTCOMES4

SFI and FSC both use outcomes-based criteria and indicators as well as a prescriptive criteria and indicators to achieve sustainable forest management. An outcomes-based approach ensures program participants have a process in place to achieve specified objectives.

FOREST MANAGEMENTSCOPE OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT STANDARD5

SFI has one single forest management standard. The SFI Forest Management Standard represents 25% of the total global area of certified forest. It applies only in the US and Canada.

FSC has close to 50 forest management standards that apply in over 85 countries. Each standard has different requirements that align with FSC’s international criteria and indicators. FSC accounts for 39% of the total global area of certified forest

REFORESTATION6 SFI and FSC both require reforestation after final harvest.

CONSERVES BIODIVERSITY AND OLD GROWTH7

SFI and FSC both protect areas of high biodiversity such as old growth, threatened and endangered species, and critical wildlife habitat. SFI requires companies to monitor impacts of management on conservation areas and FSC protects areas of high conservation value forests.

PROTECTS ENDANGERED SPECIES8

SFI and FSC both protect G1 and G2 species and threatened and endangered species. FSC also requires protection of G3 and S1-S2 species and High Conservation Value Forests while SFI requires the conservation of significant species of concern.

PROTECTS WATER QUALITY9

SFI and FSC both mandate the use of best management practices (BMPs) to protect water quality.

RECOGNIZES RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES10

SFI and FSC both recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples Rights. Almost 40 First Nations and Tribes are certified to SFI, that’s significantly more than any other standard.

Comparing SFI and FSC Certification Standards: October 2020 Page 2

CRITERIA SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCILFOREST MANAGEMENT

CHEMICAL USE11 SFI requires the minimization of chemical use, least-toxic and narrowest-spectrum pesticides, and use of only government approved chemicals. Furthermore, SFI bans WHO 1A and 1B pesticides, except where no other viable alternative is acceptable, as well as ban pesticides under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Highly hazardous pesticides are prohibited. Exceptions may be granted with site-specific justification and additional safety measures.

ADDRESSES FOREST CONVERSION FROM ONE FOREST COVER TYPE TO ANOTHER12

SFI and FSC both prohibit conversion of forest cover type to another forest cover type except in justified circumstances.

ADDRESSES FOREST CONVERSION TO NON-FOREST USES13

SFI prohibits any lands that are designated for conversion to another land use from being included in the SFI certification. Furthermore, fiber derived from these excluded lands cannot count as certified forest content in any product bearing an SFI program label.

FSC prohibits conversion to non-forest conditions except where it is a) not High Conservation Value Forest; b) entails a very limited portion of the forest area; and c) enables a substantial and secure net conservation benefit.

FIBER SOURCINGSCOPE OF FIBER SOURCING STANDARD (PROCUREMENT OF NON-CERTIFIED LANDS)14

The SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard elevates procurement practices and environmental performance on tens of millions of acres of forestland that may or may not be certified to any sustainability standard. The SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard addresses the conservation of imperiled species and requires training and outreach and the use of trained and qualified logging professionals. Measures to avoid controversial sources in the supply chain must be implemented by certified companies.

FSC has a controlled wood standard to avoid controversial sources in the supply chain and mitigation requirements for wood harvested in areas of specified risk.

ENHANCES BIODIVERSITY15 SFI ensures that the conservation of biodiversity is appropriately addressed through their fiber supply activities.

FSC does not have requirements in the FSC Controlled Wood Standard nor the FSC US National Risk Assessment to enhance biodiversity.

ENHANCES WATER QUALITY16

SFI must provide guidance to landowners on use of best management practices to protect water quality, and track & improve performance over time.

FSC does not have requirements in the FSC Controlled Wood Standard nor the FSC US National Risk Assessment to promote use of use of best management practices to protect water quality by landowners.

PROMOTES REFORESTATION17

SFI requires organizations provide information & guidance to landowners on benefits of reforestation after harvest.

FSC does not have requirements in the FSC Controlled Wood Standard nor the FSC US National Risk Assessment for the promotion of the benefits of promptreforestation.

Comparing SFI and FSC Certification Standards: October 2020 Page 3

CRITERIA SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCILFIBER SOURCING

RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS18

SFI requires companies to invest in and integrate results from forest productivity, biodiversity and climate change research. SFI Program Participants have directly invested nearly $1.7 billion in forest research since 1995.

FSC does not have requirements in the FSC Controlled Wood Standard nor the FSC US National Risk Assessment for the invest of research.

LOGGER TRAINING19 SFI requires the use of trained or qualified loggers and establish criteria of what should be included in logger training and continuing education. More than 200,000 trained loggers and resource professionals since 1995.

FSC does not have requirements in the FSC Controlled Wood Standard nor the FSC US National Risk Assessment for logger training

LANDOWNER OUTREACH20 SFI requires certified organizations provide education and outreach to forest landowners describing the importance of sustainable forestry.

FSC does not have requirements in the FSC Controlled Wood Standard nor the FSC US National Risk Assessment for landowner outreach

UNACCEPTABLE SOURCES OF FIBER21

SFI and FSC both require certificate holders to have a process in place to avoid controversial sources of fiber.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) TREES22

SFI and FSC both prohibit wood from GM trees to be included in products that use the label.

CHAIN OF CUSTODYSCOPE OF THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY STANDARD23

SFI and FSC both have a Chain of Custody Standard that tracks forest fiber content through production and manufacturing to the end product.

TRACKING SYSTEMS24 SFI and FSC both use percentage and credit systems to calculate certified forest content.

UNACCEPTABLE SOURCES OF FIBER25

SFI and FSC both require certificate holders to have a process in place to avoid controversial sources of fiber.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) TREES26

SFI and FSC both prohibit wood from GM trees to be included in products that use the label.

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Comparing SFI and FSC Certification Standards: October 2020 Page 4

14. Scope of Standards• SFI’s Fiber Sourcing Standard• FSC’s Controlled Wood Standard

15. Enhances Biodiversity• SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 1, Performance Measure

1.1; Objective 3, Performance Measure 3.1

16. Enhances Water Quality• SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 2, Performance

Measures 2.1, 2.2. & Objective 3, Performance Measure 3.1

17. Promotes Reforestation• SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 6, Performance Measure

6.2; Objective 7, Performance Measures 7.1

18. Research Requirements• SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 5, Performance Measure

5.1

19. Logger Training• SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 6, Performance

Measures 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3

20. Landowner Outreach• SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 7, Performance

Measures 7.1

21. Unacceptable Sources of Fiber• SFI Illegal Logging Policy • SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 4, Performance

Measures 4.1, 4.2; Objective 7, Performance Measures 7.3.; Objective 12, Performance Measure 12.1; Objective 13, Performance Measure 13.1

• FSC STD 40-004 Controlled Wood Standard

22. Genetically Modified Trees• SFI Policy on Forest Tree Biotechnology, Part E • SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard: Objective 5, Indicator 5.1.2• FSC POL 30-602 – FSC Interpretations on GMOs

FIBER SOURCING CITATIONS

23. Scope of Standards• SFI Chain of Custody Standard• FSC Chain of Custody Standard

24. Types of Tracking Systems• SFI Chain of Custody Standard: Part 3.5 – Average Percent

Method; Part 3.6 – Volume Credit Method • FSC Chain of Custody Standard: FSC STD 40-4004 – Section

9 – Percentage System; Section 10 – Credit System

25. Unacceptable Sources of Fiber• SFI Chain of Custody Standard: Part 4 – Due Diligence

System to Avoid Controversial Sources • FSC Chain of Custody Standard: FSC STD 40-004 Controlled

Wood Standard

26. Genetically Modified Trees• SFI Policy on Forest Tree Biotechnology, Part E• FSC POL 30-602 – FSC Interpretations on GMOs

CHAIN OF CUSTODY CITATIONS

1. Board of Directors• SFI Board of Directors• FSC U.S. Board of Directors• FSC Canada Board of Directors

2. Third Party Certification• SFI 3rd Party Audits• FSC 3rd Party Audits

3. Standards Development• SFI Standards Development• FSC Standards Development

4. Performance Outcomes• SFI Forest Management Standard• FSC Forest Management Standard

PROGRAM GOVERNANCE CITATIONS

5. Scope of Standards• SFI 2020 Annual Report• FSC Stats and Facts

6. Reforestation • SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 2, Performance Measure 2.1• FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.3 • FSC CANADA Forest Management Standard – Criterion 10.1

7. Biodiversity and Old Growth• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 4, Performance Measures 4.1, 4.2,

4.3 and 4.4• FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.4, 9.1, 9.3• FSC CANADA Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.5, 6.6, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3

8.Endangered Species• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 4, Performance Measure 4.2 • FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 7.1• FSC CANADA Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.4

9.Water Quality• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 3, Performance Measures 3.1. and

3.2• FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 10.6• FSC CANADA Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.7

10. Indigenous Peoples• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 8, Performance Measures 8.1, 8.2

and 8.3• FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criteria 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 • FSC CANADA Forest Management Standard – Criteria 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6

& 3.7

11. Chemical Use• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 2, Performance Measure 2.2• FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.6• FSC Canada Forest Management Standard – Criterion 10.7

12. Conversion from One Forest to Another Forest• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 1, Performance Measure 1.2 • FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.10• FSC Canada Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.9

13. Conversion to Non-Forest• SFI Forest Management Standard: Objective 1, Performance Measure 1.3• FSC US Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.10• FSC Canada Forest Management Standard – Criterion 6.10

FOREST MANAGEMENT CITATIONS