Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Difference between revisions
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==Conservation group support== |
==Conservation group support== |
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The SFI Program is supported by conservation groups such as Conservation International, American Bird Conservancy, [[Ducks Unlimited]], and the Conservation Fund, and is internationally recognized and accepted by governments, organizations, and companies around the world.<ref name="C10">[http://www.sfiprogram.org/sustainable-forestry-initiative/sfi-recognition.php SFI Recognition]</ref> Those that recognize SFI-labeled products include the U.S. General Services Administration, |
The SFI Program is supported by conservation groups such as Conservation International, American Bird Conservancy, [[Ducks Unlimited]], and the Conservation Fund, and is internationally recognized and accepted by governments, organizations, and companies around the world.<ref name="C10">[http://www.sfiprogram.org/sustainable-forestry-initiative/sfi-recognition.php SFI Recognition]</ref> Those that recognize SFI-labeled products include the U.S. General Services Administration, the Competition Bureau of Canada,<ref name="C12">[http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/02700.html Competition Bureau of Canada]</ref> Public Works and Government Services Canada,<ref name="C13">[http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/biens-property/questions-eng.html Public Works and Government Services Canada]</ref> Environment Canada's EcoLogo,<ref name="C14">[http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=en&n=743D106D-1 Environment Canada's EcoLogo]</ref> and the United Kingdom's Central Point of Expertise on Timber.<ref name="C15">[http://www.proforest.net/cpet/documents United Kingdom's Central Point of Expertise on Timber]</ref> In a 2008 statement, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers included SFI among certification programs that “demonstrate, and promote the sustainability of forest management practices in Canada."<ref name="C16">[http://www.sfmcanada.org/CMFiles/PublicationLibrary/CCFM_Statement_Forest_Certification_EN1KWA-24122008-5150.pdf Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, 2008 statement]</ref> |
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====Three key criteria==== |
====Three key criteria==== |
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Revision as of 02:41, 3 December 2010
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative, SFI Inc., is a non-profit organization with more than 195 million acres (790,000 km2) [1] certified to its 'forest certification standard' in the United States and Canada. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which represents some of the largest timber producers of the US and has a less rigorous standard for assessing sustainability than that currently recognized by LEED,[2] is the world’s largest single forest certification standard [3] and recognized globally by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes, which itself is the world's largest forest certifications system. According to the United Nations, SFI is the fastest growing organization for chain of custody certifications.[4]
Forest certification standards
The SFI standard covers key values such as protection of biodiversity, species at risk and wildlife habitat; sustainable harvest levels; protection of water quality; and prompt regeneration. However, these standards have in at least one instance been set aside for the certification of lands held by a company with representatives on SFI's board of directors.[5] A new SFI 2010-2014 Standard, developed through an open review process, took effect on Jan. 1, 2010.[6] All SFI certifications require independent, third-party audits[7] and are performed by internationally accredited certification bodies.[8]
SFI program
The Board of Directors that governs the SFI program has three chambers that recognize economic, environmental and social sectors equally.[9] Directors include the CEOs of major companies in the forest, paper, and wood products industry, including Weyerhaeuser, International Paper, and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation.[10]
Conservation group support
The SFI Program is supported by conservation groups such as Conservation International, American Bird Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, and the Conservation Fund, and is internationally recognized and accepted by governments, organizations, and companies around the world.[11] Those that recognize SFI-labeled products include the U.S. General Services Administration, the Competition Bureau of Canada,[12] Public Works and Government Services Canada,[13] Environment Canada's EcoLogo,[14] and the United Kingdom's Central Point of Expertise on Timber.[15] In a 2008 statement, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers included SFI among certification programs that “demonstrate, and promote the sustainability of forest management practices in Canada."[16]
Three key criteria
In its 2009 Seven Sins of Greenwashing report, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing says SFI is a credible eco-label because the SFI program meets three key criteria:[17]
- third-party certified,
- publicly available standard,
- transparent standard development process.
Green building
Many green building tools, including the National Home Building Standard in the United States[18] and Green Globes,[19] recognize wood products certified by credible certification programs, as well as by SFI.
The SFI program only certifies lands in the United States and Canada, and program participants must comply with all applicable laws. For sources outside of North America without effective laws, participants must avoid illegal or other controversial sources.[20] The SFI program supports activities by international experts to find ways to address the problem of illegal logging[21]
Critiques
Marketing practices
On September 9, 2009 the Washington State Forest Law Center, on behalf of the environmental protection group ForestEthics, filed complaints against SFI Inc. with the Federal Trade Commission[22] and the Internal Revenue Service.[22]
The FTC compliant accuses SFI Inc. of misleading consumers with deceptive marketing practices. The complaint cites various aspects of SFI’s marketing, including its claim that it is an “independent” not-for-profit organization, its dependence on the timber industry for funding, and the vagueness of SFI’s environmental standards, which allow SFI-certified landowners to be certified merely because the landowner is complying with state environmental regulations. The complaint cites SFI’s certification as an example of greenwash.
Conflict of interest
The complaint filed with the IRS requests an examination of SFI Inc.’s non-profit status, based on the fact that SFI benefits the private interests of its corporate landowners and not the public interest, as well as the fact that SFI draws more than 80% of its funding from the wood and paper industry.[23] The complaint asserts that in serving the private interests of wood and paper companies that want a ‘green’ image, SFI is inappropriately granted a nonprofit status reserved for public charities.[24]
The Sierra Club
The Sierra Club has lodged a formal complaint with the SFI itself,[25] alleging that the timber company Weyerhaeuser engaged in risky and irresponsible logging on steep slopes that led to 1,259 landslides in 2007 on SFI-certified Weyerhaeuser landsin Washington state.[26][27] Challenging SFI to back up its claims of ‘independence’ and ‘rigorous audits’, the Sierra Club requests in its complaints that Weyerhaeuser’s SFI certification be revoked.
Sources
- ^ SFI Marks 2,000 Chain-of-Custody Certified Locations
- ^ John Collins Rudolf, "For Sustainable Wood, a New and Unloved Standard" The New York Times, 22 October 2010 accessed 23 October 2010
- ^ SFI Inc. Launches New Standard, Leads Forest Certification Forward
- ^ Forest Products- Annual Market Review
- ^ High Tension over Big Timber
- ^ SFI INC. LAUNCHES NEW STANDARD
- ^ Independent Certification Bodies
- ^ SFI Accreditation
- ^ SFI Governance
- ^ SFI Board of Directors
- ^ SFI Recognition
- ^ Competition Bureau of Canada
- ^ Public Works and Government Services Canada
- ^ Environment Canada's EcoLogo
- ^ United Kingdom's Central Point of Expertise on Timber
- ^ Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, 2008 statement
- ^ Sins of Greenwashing
- ^ NAHB
- ^ Green Globes
- ^ SFI Requirements 2010-2014 Section 7
- ^ Prevent Illegal Logging
- ^ a b Complaints filed against SFI
- ^ THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL AND THE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE: POINTS OF COMPARISON
- ^ Washington State Forest Law Center complaint against SFI filed with IRS
- ^ Sierra Club complaint filed with SFI
- ^ High Tension Over Big Timber
- ^ [1] Landslide Reconnaissance Following the Storm Event of December 1–3, 2007, in Western Washington
See also
External links
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative entry at ecolabelling.org
- TerraChoice 2009 Report on Greenwashing
- Central Point of Expertise on Timber 2008 Forest Certification Assessment
- Conservation Fund President and CEO Larry Selzer, on forest certification