PEFC / FSC for textile packaging

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, based in Geneva) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council, based in Bonn) are the world's two leading certification schemes for wood and paper products from sustainable forestry. In textiles they do not cover the garment itself but they are central to the entire packaging chain: hangtags, paper care labels, folding boxes, shipping cartons, void-fill and display boards.

Both systems rely on a seamless chain-of-custody (CoC) from forest to end product. FSC uses three labels: FSC 100% (certified wood only), FSC Mix (blend with recycled and/or controlled wood) and FSC Recycled (pre- and post-consumer recycled fibre only). PEFC uses PEFC-certified and PEFC-Recycled. Both are ISO-14001-compatible and, under the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR 2024/2025), effectively mandatory in European B2B procurement. For corporate merchandising and e-commerce textile shipping, PEFC/FSC-certified board is now the norm — especially since Amazon Frustration-Free-Packaging (FFP) and Zalando's sustainability programmes require it. Textile hangtags and corporate-wear collections with branded FSC board can use this as a CO2 and forest-protection argument in tenders.

• PEFC (Geneva) and FSC (Bonn): the two leading systems for sustainable wood/paper
• Seamless chain-of-custody from forest to end product
• FSC labels: 100%, Mix, Recycled; PEFC: certified, Recycled
• Textile use: hangtags, folding cartons, shipping boxes