Chain of custody certification: an assessment of the North American solid wood sector

Chain of custody certification is having a growing influence in the marketplace for forest products. Chain of custody certification refers to the generic process of tracking materials from forest to market. Its growth has been promulgated by increasing channel and/or market concerns related to sourcing wood products manufactured with raw materials from environmentally certified sources. Information on how North American solid wood products companies are addressing chain of custody certification is scarce. However, it is critical for the further development of this concept. A survey of primary wood products manufacturers was conducted in order to determine the current status of chain of custody certification in Canada and the United States. Accredited certification bodies in North America were also interviewed by telephone. Results indicate that approximately 50% of solid wood producers will be certified by 2007 and that the acquisition of benefits from chain of custody certification may be a key factor in increasing adoption levels. A cluster analysis and a determinant function analysis suggest that company size is an important variable to be considered when analyzing the adoption of chain of custody certification by primary wood producers. According to these analyses, larger companies are more likely to be chain of custody certified than smaller companies. In addition, larger companies seem to be more cognizant of the benefits resulting from chain of custody certification. The costs of implementing chain of custody certification are also related to company size, with a general trend towards lower costs for larger companies.