The SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard is the centerpiece of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 2022 Standards and Rules, a suite of certification systems designed to promote responsible forestry and supply chain transparency across North America. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a nonprofit that advances sustainability through forest-focused standards, education, conservation, and community partnerships. Alongside the Forest Management Standard, the SFI 2022 framework includes three additional certification standards and a set of optional modules that support specific implementation needs:

• Forest Management Standard

• Fiber Sourcing Standard

• Chain-of-Custody Standard

• Certified Sourcing Standard

The Forest Management Standard applies to organizations that own or manage forestlands in the United States or Canada. It outlines requirements for long-term forest sustainability, focusing on environmental health, social responsibility, and continual improvement. The standard includes 17 objectives covering key areas such as climate-smart forestry, fire resilience, biodiversity, water quality, forest productivity, protection of Indigenous rights, community engagement, and continual monitoring. Organizations must demonstrate conformance through independent audits and public reporting.

To support diverse implementation needs, SFI offers several optional modules that align with the Forest Management Standard and enhance accessibility:

• SFI Indigenous Peoples and Families Module

• Small Lands Group Certification Module

In addition to these modules, SFI has developed supplements to help certified organizations align with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). These supplements provide guidance for Fiber Sourcing and Chain-of-Custody certificate holders seeking market access in the EU.

The Fiber Sourcing Standard applies to companies that procure fiber without owning forestland. It ensures that sourcing practices support biodiversity, use trained harvest professionals, promote best management practices, and avoid controversial sources. Companies must also engage with landowners and foresters to encourage responsible forest management.

The Chain-of-Custody Standard provides a system to track certified forest content through manufacturing and distribution. It allows for both physical separation and percentage-based tracking. The standard applies to any organization handling forest products and ensures transparency in labeling, recordkeeping, and reporting.

The Certified Sourcing Standard allows companies to use the SFI Certified Sourcing label, which communicates that fiber is from responsible sources without making a specific claim about certified forest content. This standard requires adherence to sourcing requirements, risk mitigation systems, and organizational controls that support sustainability, regardless of whether a company holds Chain-of-Custody certification.

All SFI certifications are audited by accredited bodies and follow internationally recognized norms for management system and product certification, such as those from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). SFI standards are also benchmarked against global frameworks developed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

More information is available at the official site: SFI 2022 Standards and Rules.