​​​Forest certification signifies sustainable forest use​​​

​It is important to our customers that the wood we use originates from responsibly managed forests. Third-party forest certification signifies legal and sustainable forest use to us and our customers. We want to participate in the development of sustainable forestry standards and to offer our customers as wide a range of certified products as possible. 

Only around 10% of the world’s forests are certified, but 88% of the wood used by Metsä Group has international PEFC™ and FSC® forest certification. This is an excellent rate in our industry, and our goal is to keep the share of certified wood above 80%. Of the wood we use, 100% is traceable and comes from certified or controlled forests. We promote forest certification in all of our areas of operation and actively participate in its development internationally. Riikka Joukio, SVP, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Metsä Group, is a member of the PEFC Board of Directors. 

Certification serves to ensure biodiversity and the preservation of habitats and biotopes typical of forests. Certification also safeguards the rights of people working in forests and ensures that forests can continue to be used for recreational purposes.​

Metsä Group offers opportunities for group certification​

In 2012, Metsä Group was issued FSC group certification that covered all of the forests owned by the Group companies in Finland. In 2017, the certificate covered 160,000 hectares. Contract customers of Metsäliitto Cooperative, the parent company or Metsä Group, can also join the FSC group certificate. Forest owners have previously been offered an opportunity to join the PEFC group certificate.

Forest certification ensures that supply chain and forest management operations are sustainable. Metsä Group has chain of custody management system certification that covers all of the wood supplied by Metsä Group and all of its production plants. In addition, the forests owned or leased by Group companies have certification that ensures sustainable forest management. All of its certificates have been verified by independent certification bodies.