FSC vs PEFC: Which Certification Should You Ask For?

FSC vs PEFC is one of the first questions a buyer asks when a paper, board or packaging specification calls for certified fibre. Both are forest certification systems with chain of custody rules and on-product labels, and for most printed matter and packaging either one can prove that the fibre comes from certified or controlled sources. The practical differences lie in how the two systems are organised, what each label promises and which one your customers or tenders ask for.

FSC vs PEFC: what is the difference in short?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a single international system with its own standards and labels. PEFC works differently: it is an alliance of national forest certification systems with 55 national members, each running certification in its own country under PEFC's international benchmark.

For a purchasing department, both FSC and PEFC answer the same core question: can the supplier prove where the fibre in this product came from? Both do that through chain of custody certification, audited by independent certification bodies. The choice is often less about which system is "better" and more about availability in your supply chain and what your own customers require.

What do the FSC and PEFC labels mean?

FSC labels: 100%, Mix and Recycled

According to FSC, the three FSC labels mean the following. FSC 100% means all materials come from FSC-certified forests. FSC Recycled means the product is made entirely from recycled material. FSC Mix means a mixture of material from FSC-certified forests, recycled material and/or FSC controlled wood, which is not from certified forests but reduces the risk of unacceptable sources.

In printing and packaging you will often meet FSC Mix on board, cartons and brochures, because it allows certified, recycled and controlled fibre to be combined.

PEFC labels: certified and recycled

PEFC has two product labels, each with its own rule. The PEFC certified label may be used when at least 70% of the forest and tree based material is PEFC certified, with the rest from PEFC controlled sources. The PEFC recycled label is for products made only from recycled forest and tree based material.

Why the label alone is not enough

A logo on a website says little about a specific product. FSC states that a company must hold chain of custody certification before it can put an FSC label on a product, and even then not every product it sells is certified, and the same logic applies to PEFC. What you buy is a specific product with a specific claim on the invoice, so ask for both the certificate and the claim.

How does chain of custody work for FSC and PEFC?

Chain of custody is the paper trail that links certified forest material to the finished product. Every company that takes legal ownership of the material and wants to pass on the claim must be certified, from the mill to the printer or box maker.

PEFC describes what a certified company must do: set up procedures for purchasing, tracking, manufacturing, sale and record keeping, train staff, verify that incoming material is certified, keep certified and non-certified goods apart and run internal audits every year. Certificates last up to five years, with annual surveillance audits. FSC chain of custody works on the same principle and also requires certificate holders to implement the FSC core labour requirements, checked by third-party auditors.

For a buyer, all of this comes down to three things:

• The supplier you pay, not only the mill, must hold a valid certificate if you want to use the claim yourself.
• The invoice or delivery note should state the claim (for example "FSC Mix 70%" or "PEFC certified") and the certificate code.
• The certificate scope must cover the product type, such as folding cartons or printed matter.

Which should you choose, FSC or PEFC?

In practice most European buyers accept either, so start from your own requirements and work backwards.

When your customers specify one system

Some retailers, brands and public tenders name FSC or PEFC, or accept both. If a customer contract names one, follow it, because a claim you cannot pass on has little value. Check the exact wording: "FSC or PEFC certified" gives you more suppliers to choose from.

When availability decides

Availability of certified board and paper varies by grade and region, and many mills and converters hold both certificates. If you are flexible, write "FSC or PEFC certified material, claim stated on invoice" in your request and let suppliers quote what they can deliver reliably.

When you want recycled fibre

Both systems have a recycled label, so if recycled content is your main goal, ask for FSC Recycled or PEFC recycled, or ask the supplier to state the recycled share on the quote.

How to check an FSC or PEFC certificate

Never rely on a PDF alone, since both systems have public databases.

1. FSC: FSC points buyers to the FSC Public Certificate Search, where you can confirm that a certificate is valid and covers the right scope.
2. PEFC: the PEFC online database lets you identify certified suppliers and check their certificates.
3. Match the details: company name, address, certificate code, status (valid, suspended or terminated) and product scope.
4. Check the invoice: the claim and certificate code should appear on sales documents for certified deliveries.

Our guide on how to check an ISO certificate uses the same approach for management system certificates.

FSC, PEFC and the EU Deforestation Regulation

Buyers often ask whether FSC and PEFC certification covers the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and the answer is that the two are separate. A May 2026 analysis by Chambers and Partners notes that the EUDR applies from 30 December 2026 for large and medium companies and from 30 June 2027 for most micro and small operators. The December 2025 amendment also removed certain printed products, such as books and newspapers, from scope.

Wood based packaging and paper may still be in scope depending on the product and your role. A forest certificate can help a supplier gather origin information, but ask your supplier directly how they will support your due diligence. This section is general information, not legal advice.

Requesting certified paper and packaging on Flobid

When you send a request for printed folding cartons or brochures and catalogues, add the certificate you need, for example "FSC or PEFC certified, claim on invoice". Suppliers can show checked certificates on their profile, and you can compare which suppliers can deliver the claim before you award the order. Our post on questions to ask packaging suppliers lists more points to include.

Sources

1. What do the FSC labels mean?, Forest Stewardship Council
2. Chain of Custody Certification, FSC Connect
3. Looking for an FSC Certified Supplier?, Forest Stewardship Council
4. Use the PEFC label, PEFC International
5. How to get PEFC chain of custody certified, PEFC International
6. The PEFC Alliance, PEFC International
7. EUDR Review Lands, But the Text Stays: Here Is What Actually Changes, Chambers and Partners (2026)
8. European Union: Provisional Agreement on EUDR One Year Postponement, Baker McKenzie (2025)