Brands and retailers

As an end-user of PEFC certification, you may not be PEFC certified, however, you can still use the PEFC trademarks to promote your procurement and sale of certified products and the importance of sustainable forestry.

You can use the off-product label to communicate the availability of PEFC-certified products in store and/or online, such as on your website, annual and CSR reports, marketing materials, catalogues and brochures and in-store materials. You can also use it more generally to highlight your procurement of PEFC-certified products or your commitment to procure PEFC-certified products.

To help promote your sale of PEFC-certified products to your customers, you have a range of off-product label messages to choose from:

• Promoting Sustainable Forest Management
• [Company name] offers PEFC certified products
• By sourcing PEFC, [we/company name] are supporting sustainably managed forests globally
• By sourcing PEFC [wood/paper/packaging/products], [we/company name] are supporting sustainably managed forests globally
• The PEFC logo on our products ensures that our [wood/paper/packaging/products] comes from sustainably managed forests, recycled and controlled sources. Every purchase of a PEFC-labelled product makes a difference for forests and forest communities across the world.

You can also use these messages without the label, under the same requirements. When using them, you must either have the PEFC label close to the message, or put your trademarks licence number next to the message.

Promoting your certified products

If you are a retailer that procures PEFC-certified finished products and sells these finished products directly to consumers, without manipulating them in any way, you can use the PEFC trademarks indirectly on‑product for promotional purposes. 

In particular, this applies to highlighting within your catalogues, brochures and prices lists, both digital or paper based, which of your products are PEFC certified. You need to clearly place an off-product label with the message “The products marked with the PEFC trademarks can be provided as PEFC certified” and then can put the PEFC label next to all your PEFC-certified products.

The aim of this process is to make it easier for you as a retailer to demonstrate to your customers which of your products are PEFC certified, without needing to use the specific licence number of every supplier. To find out exactly how you can use the PEFC trademarks in this way, see clause 6.3.4.4 of the PEFC Trademarks standard.  

How to access the off-product label

You can create off-product labels using the PEFC Label Generator. Your account will automatically give you the label messages suitable for your business.

If you already have a PEFC logo usage licence and are using the PEFC labels, you will need to sign a new PEFC trademarks usage contract (or accept an amendment to your current contract) to access the new Label Generator. Don’t worry, your PEFC trademarks licence number won’t change. 

The exact process varies from country to country, but PEFC will contact you with more information and provide you with the new contract. You will be contacted by PEFC before 14 August 2022. 

If you already have access to the previous version of the Label Generator, you should continue to use this until contacted by PEFC. For more information, please contact the PEFC office in your country, you can find the contact details here.

If you don't have a PEFC trademarks usage contract, you can request the contract using this request form. PEFC International or the PEFC national member in your country will contact you and guide you through the process.