ISO 38200:2018
Chain of custody of wood and wood-based products
Incentive
Customers across countries and industries demand proofs of sustainability for wood and wood-based products. Internationally known and recognised are certifications according to FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) as two private standards for chain of custody certification of products from sustainable forestry. Less familiar is the international standard «ISO 38200:2018 - Chain of custody of wood and wood-based products» published in 2018.
Outcome
ISO 38200 requires, among other things, that users provide evidence of the legality and traceability of all wood and wood-based products and their supply chains and also systematically check this evidence. This also fulfils key requirements, such as the Swiss Timber Trade Ordinance (HHV1) and the European Union's Deforestation Directive (EUDR2). In addition, the standard allows you to make individualised statements about your products, provided that their truthfulness can be proven. These individual statements have a high level of credibility thanks to the annual external review by a certification body. They can therefore be used ffectively to position your company and market your product.
Target groups
Companies and organisations that trade in, market or process wood-based products (including paper, rubber, cork, pulp, wood fibres, cardboard, wood).
Validity
3 years - as part of the ongoing development process, a surveillance audit takes place annually and a recertification audit after 3 years.
Recognition
The SQS certificate confirms the verification according to an internationally recognised standard. ISO 38200:2018 also supports UN Goal 12 "Sustainable consumption and production “.
Combinations
ISO 38200 can be combined with ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) or ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) in an integrated management system. A combination with FSC/PEFC is also possible in some cases.
Motivation
Customers across countries and industries demand proofs of sustainability for wood and
wood-based products. Internationally known and recognised are certifications according to
FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification Schemes) as two private standards for chain of custody certification of products
from sustainable forestry.
Less familiar is the international standard «ISO 38200:2018 - Chain of custody of wood and
wood-based products» published in 2018.
Benefits
- ISO 38200 refers to all raw materials and products made of wood, cork and other
woody materials such as bamboo (FSC and PEFC only make statements about
FSC/PEFC-certified materials). - Only one material balance needs to be drawn up for all of the company's products.
- There are no logo usage fees.
- There are no licence fees.
- If appropriate evidence is provided, individual statements ("specified material") can
be made about the products, e.g. «100% of the wood used comes from less than 100km
away», «Product produced with green electricity», «Wood from canton XY», etc.. - The individual statements relating to the products, e.g. on regionality, transport
distances, supply chain traceability and wood origin, are verified by external bodies
and thus gain credibility. - ISO 38200 can be combined with other ISO standards and FSC/PEFC. In particular, it
can be easily integrated into the processes and process descriptions of ISO standards
already in use (synergies). - Like other ISO standards, ISO 38200 is regularly reviewed, but is only further
developed if there is a real need.
Disadvantages/Limitations
- There is no separate product label «ISO 38200».
- ISO 38200 is no substitute for FSC/PEFC as long as FSC/PEFC material is explicitly
required. - The standard is not applicable to forest management and does not permit any
statement on the sustainability of forest management.
