What PEFC ESPAÑA does

PEFC España is a Madrid-based, non-governmental non-profit organization founded in 1999 that operates as the Spanish national member of PEFC International, the world's largest forest certification system. The organization promotes and disseminates Sustainable Forest Management (GFS) through two core certification products: Sustainable Forest Management certification for forest owners and managers, and Chain of Custody certification enabling companies to demonstrate the legal and sustainable origin of forest-based products. It also operates the PEFC RED III scheme, a voluntary certification recognized by the European Commission that helps companies comply with EU Timber Regulation due-diligence requirements.

The organization serves a broad vertical-based customer base spanning forest owners and managers, wood and forest product companies (sawmills, timber traders, furniture and construction firms), the pulp and paper industry, brand owners and retailers, and accredited certification bodies. Supporting its core certifications is a digital ecosystem comprising the Observa PEFC open-access data portal, searchable databases for certified products, certificates, and forest areas across all Spanish autonomous communities, and an online label generator. The organization additionally provides educational services through Environmental Education programs, Tomorrow's Timber Talks construction workshops, and a climate action program for CO2 compensation.

PEFC España generates revenue through certification fees (modeled as licensing/royalties) administered via authorized third-party certification bodies that conduct audits and issue certificates. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. As of the input data, the organization has certified 3,170,112 hectares of forest area in Spain, 87,031 forest owners and managers, and 1,892 companies in the supply chain. Named enterprise customers include ENCE Energía y Celulosa, FINANCIERA MADERERA S.A. (FINSA), Grupo HENNEO, ACTIU Berbegal y Formas, and ALIER S.A., spanning forestry, wood panels, graphic arts, furniture, and recycled paper sectors. The organization is parented by PEFC International, a non-profit foundation, and operates with approximately 16 employees.

Name

PEFC ESPAÑA

Legal name

PEFC España

Website

https://pefc.es

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PEFC España is a Madrid-based non-profit national chapter of PEFC International that certifies sustainable forest management and chain of custody for forest owners, wood-product manufacturers, paper companies, and brand owners across Spain, generating revenue through certification fees administered via authorized certification bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Certification Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Forest Certification & Chain-of-Custody Services (FSC/PEFC/SFI) (IMAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forest Management Unit (FMU) Certification (FSC/PEFC/SFI) (AFAMALAA), Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification for Forest Products (AFAMALAB), Carbon & Climate-Aligned Forest Certification Add-ons (e.g., FSC Ecosystem Services, climate modules) (AFAMALAH), Forest Certification Auditing & Surveillance Audits (AFAMALAD)

Keywords

• Forest certification services
• Sustainable forest management
• Chain of custody certification
• Timber verification schemes
• Wood products compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Certificación Forestal y de Cadena de Custodia: PEFC España generates revenue through certification fees for forest management certification and chain of custody certification services provided to forest owners, forestry companies, and wood product manufacturers across Spain.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PEFC España administers forest management certification and chain of custody certification services in Spain under the PEFC International framework. It enables forest owners, forestry companies, sawmills, wood product manufacturers, paper companies, and graphic arts businesses to demonstrate sustainable and legal origin of forest-based products through the PEFC label, with the PEFC RED III scheme specifically recognized by the European Commission for EU Timber Regulation compliance.

Product overview

PEFC España is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that promotes and disseminates Sustainable Forest Management through forest certification and chain of custody certification of forest products. The organization offers a comprehensive ecosystem of certification services and tools, including Forest Management Certification, Chain of Custody Certification, and PEFC RED III certification for EU Timber Regulation compliance. Supporting these core certification products are several digital tools including the Certified Products Search (Buscador de productos certificados), Sustainable Forest Management Certificate Search (Buscador de certificados GFS), Certified Surfaces Search (Buscador de superficies), Label Generator, and the Observa PEFC data portal. Additionally, the organization provides educational services through Environmental Education programs, Tomorrow's Timber Talks workshops, and climate action programs for CO2 compensation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certificación de Gestión Forestal Sostenible PEFC Forest management certification that provides independent recognition of responsible management practices for forest owners and managers in Spain.
• Certificación de Cadena de Custodia PEFC Chain of custody certification that allows companies to demonstrate to their customers the legal and sustainable origin of forest products in the supply chain.
• PEFC RED III Certification Scheme Voluntary certification scheme recognized by the European Commission that enables companies to demonstrate compliance with EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) requirements for due diligence systems.
• Suministro PEFC para proyectos (PEFC Supply for Projects) New PEFC certification scheme designed to drive demand for certified wood products in construction projects across Spain.
• Generador de etiquetas PEFC (PEFC Label Generator) Online tool (PEFC ST 2002:2020) that allows certified companies to generate PEFC labels for their products.
• Observa PEFC portal Open-access portal providing information about PEFC-certified forests in Spain, offering clear and updated data on Sustainable Forest Management and its contribution to conservation and society.
• Talleres Tomorrow's Timber Talks Workshops covering the latest trends in wood construction, available in English and Spanish.
• Educación Ambiental (Environmental Education) Activities and materials designed to educate on the importance and benefits of sustainable forest management and its resources.
• Actúa por el Clima (Climate Action Program) Program helping to compensate CO2 emissions from activities through reforestation projects in forests affected by climate change, including fires, pests, and weather phenomena.
• Buscador de productos certificados PEFC (PEFC Certified Products Search) Online searchable database of organizations certified in Chain of Custody that offer PEFC certified products, covering all Spanish autonomous communities with filters by activity type and product category.
• Buscador de certificados de Gestión Forestal Sostenible PEFC (Sustainable Forest Management Certificate Search) Search tool for sustainable forest management certificates, allowing searches by certificate code, license code, or entity name with filtering options.
• Buscador de superficies certificadas PEFC (PEFC Certified Forest Areas Search) Geographic search tool for locating and viewing PEFC certified forest areas across Spain with mapping capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3.17 million hectares of forests certified in Spain
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PEFC InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEFC España is the Spanish national member of PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), the world's largest forest certification system. As the national chapter, PEFC España operates under the international PEFC framework, implementing global standards for sustainable forest management certification in Spain.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• SGS: SGS is a global testing, inspection, and certification company that operates as an accredited certification body authorized to conduct PEFC and FSC forest and chain-of-custody audits. Comparable as a downstream partner and ecosystem enabler for PEFC España's scheme.
• PEFC International: PEFC International is the global parent organization of PEFC España, owning the PEFC scheme standards, trademarks, and international mutual recognition framework. Comparable as the upstream standard-setter that defines PEFC España's certification products.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) firm that delivers third-party audits for forest certification schemes including PEFC and FSC. Comparable as an authorized certification body delivering PEFC's audits to Spanish forest owners and companies.
• ENCE Energía y Celulosa: ENCE is a Spanish pulp and renewable energy company that is a customer of PEFC España's chain-of-custody certification. Comparable as a leading Spanish forestry-sector enterprise whose certification needs reflect the demand profile PEFC España serves.

Direct peers

• FSC International (Forest Stewardship Council): FSC International operates the competing global forest certification scheme with national chapters worldwide. Directly comparable to PEFC International in scope and offerings, and the upstream of FSC España, the head-to-head competitor to PEFC España.
• FSC España (Forest Stewardship Council Spain): FSC España is the Spanish national chapter of FSC International, the other major global forest certification system. Directly competes with PEFC España on sustainable forest management certification and chain-of-custody verification in the same Spanish market with similar customer segments.

Regional players

• Soil Association Certification: Soil Association Certification is a UK-based certification body offering forestry (FSC/PEFC) and other sustainability certifications. Comparable as a regional certification body providing PEFC audits and competing for the same forest and chain-of-custody audit work.
• AENOR: AENOR is Spain's leading certification body and a key authorized PEFC certification body in the Spanish market. Comparable as a delivery partner that audits forest owners and companies on behalf of PEFC España.

Emerging players

• Preferred by Nature: Preferred by Nature is a non-profit that supports sustainable land use certification including forestry, with audit services and a digital traceability platform. Comparable as an emerging player offering adjacent certification and digital traceability solutions overlapping with PEFC's chain-of-custody value proposition.
• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance operates a sustainability certification program with growing presence in forestry and adjacent supply chains (agriculture, forestry, tourism). Comparable as an emerging sustainability scheme competing for ESG-driven brand-owner and retailer certifications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PEFCSpain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pefcspain

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PEFC ESPAÑA