PEFC certification: the cornerstone of timber construction

In France, the building sector accounts for nearly 25% of greenhouse gas emissions. Faced with this major decarbonization challenge, wood naturally stands out as the material of the future for the industry. However, its increasing use requires assurances regarding the sustainability of the resource. PEFC certification enables building professionals to guarantee to their clients and end-users that the wood incorporated into their projects comes from sustainable forests, or from recycled materials and controlled sources.

PEFC certification: a regulatory safeguard for builders

To combat deforestation, the European Union has implemented the EUDR (European Union Deforestation Regulation), which aims to ban products resulting from such practices. Thanks to wood flow traceability across the entire supply chain, PEFC certification is recognized by the European Commission as a tool to help companies demonstrate their compliance with this regulation.

PEFC certification: a competitive advantage

PEFC certification offers a competitive edge, particularly during public or private tender processes. For instance, environmental criteria will become mandatory when selecting bids for all public contracts starting August 22, 2026 (under the Climate and Resilience Law). Choosing PEFC-certified wood means turning an ecological imperative into a major commercial asset and standing out by demonstrating a genuine commitment to sustainable forests.

Project certification: a new framework tailored to the sector's constraints

PEFC also offers a standard specifically designed for building professionals: project certification. This practical framework enables the certification of responsible sourcing for an entire construction project (such as the roof structure of Notre-Dame de Paris) and allows for the showcasing of all timber certified under recognized sustainable forest management labels.

PEFC by the numbers

The world’s leading forest certification system.

Over 5.8 million hectares certified in mainland France and 2.4 million in French Guiana.

87,919 committed forest owners in France.

3,548 certified companies in France (30,000 worldwide).