Forest Certification Analysis

On a quick-turnaround basis, Soyka & Company performed research and analysis on the major voluntary programs available in North America addressing sustainable forestry and forest products, particularly paper.  Client members needed to better understand how these programs differ and, in some sense, which were “better.”  We developed an analysis describing what these different sustainable forestry programs are, how they have been developed, what they require, and the ways in which they are similar and different, as well as how they compare, at a general level, with other consensus-based environmental standards.  It also provided an assessment of the degree of market acceptance that each has received, and presented recent trends in certifications in North America and other geographies.  Finally, the analysis examined supply and demand conditions in North America, and assessed whether calls for greater use of certified wood products are realistic and, indeed, sustainable. An expanded version of this study that includes implications for corporate managers and public policy makers, has been published in the Environmental Research Journal.