Responsible Wood

What Responsible Wood does

Responsible Wood is a Brisbane-based, not-for-profit Standards Development Organisation founded in 2004 that operates as the Australian national governing body for the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) International — the world's largest forest certification system, covering over 300 million hectares globally. The organisation owns and maintains two Australian Standards underpinning its certification scheme: AS/NZS 4708 (Sustainable Forest Management) and AS 4707 (Chain of Custody), both accredited by Standards Australia and endorsed by PEFC International. It certifies more than 90% of Australia's commercial production forestry, making it a near-monopoly national certification authority. Its core services include Sustainable Forest Management certification for forest owners, Chain of Custody certification for manufacturers/processors/distributors, PEFC International certification, and — as of June 2026 — PEFC Project Sourcing Certification for construction and built-environment projects. Supporting products include the 'Sustainably Grown, Australian Made' logo for certified organisations and a tiered membership program with annual fees ranging from AU$135 (individuals) to AU$6,875 (large companies and national associations).

The business model is membership- and certification-fee based. Revenue derives from three streams: annual membership subscriptions across tiered categories, certification fees paid by forest owners and supply chain companies (undisclosed pricing), and licensing of Responsible Wood and PEFC logos under Logo Usage Licence Agreements. Distribution runs through direct engagement and a network of endorsed third-party certification bodies that conduct independent audits. Customers span five segments: forest owners/managers, supply chain companies, brands and retailers, certification and accreditation bodies, and the construction/built-environment sector. Marketing channels include a content-rich website, active social media presence on Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram, industry events (WCTE, Sydney Build Expo, Queensland Timber Trajectory), and partnerships with industry associations such as Timber Queensland, WoodSolutions, ARC Advance Timber Hub, and the Forest Products Commission. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors with multi-stakeholder representation, recently refreshed in 2025, and operates with a team of approximately 7 employees from its Kedron, Queensland headquarters.

Responsibly Wood's competitive moat rests on its exclusive regulatory position as Australia's sole PEFC national governing body, the proprietary Australian Standards it has developed, and the global ecosystem lock-in of the PEFC network. Its standards are recognised by regulators including the EU Deforestation Regulation and Australia's Illegal Logging Act, and its certification supports compliance with green building schemes (Green Star, BREEAM, LEED). Recent strategic activity has centred on extending the scheme into new verticals (construction/built environment) and geographies (trans-Tasman integration with the New Zealand Forest Certification Association), alongside a governance refresh and the 2022 launch of the 'Sustainably Grown, Australian Made' consumer-facing logo.

Name

Responsible Wood

Legal name

Responsible Wood

Website

https://responsiblewood.org.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Certification Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Forest Certification, Compliance & Chain-of-Custody Support (AFAMAAAH), Forest Certification Auditing & Surveillance Audits (AFAMALAD)

Keywords

• Forest certification services
• Sustainable forest management
• Chain of custody certification
• PEFC certification scheme
• Timber sustainability standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Kedron

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

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. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from companies, NFP organisations, and individuals in the forest and wood products industry. Fees range from $135 for individuals to $6,875 for large companies and national associations.
2. Certification Fees: Fees for certification services including sustainable forest management certification and chain of custody certification. Organisations must obtain Responsible Wood/PEFC certification to use the logos and labels.
3. Logo/Label Licensing: Organisations with valid Logo Usage Licence Agreements can use the Responsible Wood and PEFC logos on certified products. This includes the 'Sustainably Grown, Australian Made' supporting statement logo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Responsible Wood is a not-for-profit Standards Development Organisation that develops, administers, and promotes Australian Standards for sustainable forest management (AS/NZS 4708) and chain of custody for forest-based products (AS 4707). As the Australian governing body of PEFC International, it provides forest certification, chain-of-custody certification, and project-sourcing certification to forest owners, timber processors, supply chain companies, brands, and construction projects. Certified entities gain the right to use the "Sustainably Grown, Australian Made" logo and PEFC trademarks to demonstrate verified sustainable sourcing.

Product overview

Responsible Wood is Australia's national forest certification scheme and the national governing body for PEFC International. The organisation offers a portfolio of certification services including Sustainable Forest Management certification (AS/NZS 4708), Chain of Custody certification (AS 4707), PEFC International certification, and the new PEFC Project Sourcing Certification for construction projects. These certifications work together to provide end-to-end assurance from forest management through supply chain to final products. Additionally, the organisation provides membership programs and marketing support through the 'Sustainably Grown, Australian Made' logo for certified organisations. Responsible Wood is a not-for-profit, Standards Australia accredited Standards Development Organisation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Forest Management Certification
• Chain of Custody Certification
• PEFC Project Sourcing Certification
• Sustainably Grown, Australian Made Logo and PEFC Label Program
• Responsible Wood Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Certifies over 90% of Australia's commercial production forestry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PEFC InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Wood is the national governing body for PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) in Australia. PEFC is the world's largest forest certification system with more than 300 million hectares of certified forests. Responsible Wood's Australian Standards are endorsed by PEFC International.
• WoodSolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for field trips, events, and industry education. Responsible Wood is a proud funding partner of WoodSolutions' Renewable Timber Framing Campaign.
• Timber QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Queensland Timber Trajectory event to showcase responsible sourcing certification and timber in the built environment.
• ARC Advance Timber HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Queensland Timber Trajectory event at University of Queensland's GHD Auditorium.
• Forest Products Commission (FPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Western Australia field trips showcasing certified forest management.
• South West Timber HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Western Australia field trips helping build trust between forest managers and timber specifiers.
• University of TasmaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in field trips providing academic expertise in timber design and sustainable forest management.
• WesbeamminorOthersHost of LVL facility tours during Western Australia field trips.
• WespineminorOthersHost of sawmill tours during Western Australia field trips.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: A global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major that conducts third-party forest management and chain of custody audits on behalf of PEFC-endorsed schemes, including Responsible Wood endorsed certification bodies. Comparable as a delivery channel for the underlying audit work that powers certification revenue.
• PEFC International: PEFC International is the umbrella global body that endorses Responsible Wood's Australian standards. It is the broader incumbent network (46 national members, 38 endorsed systems, 300+ million hectares) within which Responsible Wood operates its national franchise.
• SGS: One of the world's largest certification bodies, providing forestry, chain of custody, and sustainability audits that feed into PEFC and FSC certification. Directly comparable as a global incumbent that competes to be an endorsed certification body under Responsible Wood's scheme.
• DNV: A global certification and assurance provider with sustainability and supply chain certifications including forestry. Functions as a competing endorsed certification body and adjacent sustainability assurance provider to Responsible Wood's certified supply chain.

Direct peers

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): SFI is a North American-based forest certification standard endorsed by PEFC, analogous to Responsible Wood's AS/NZS 4708. It serves forest owners and the wood products supply chain with sustainability certifications and is a direct comparator on standards design, governance, and PEFC-endorsed model.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC International): FSC is the principal competing global forest certification system and operates its own national/regional bodies (including FSC Australia). It is the closest direct peer to Responsible Wood, offering sustainable forest management and chain of custody certifications to the same forest owners, supply chain, brands, and retailers that Responsible Wood serves.
• SCS Global Services: A specialist third-party certification body active in forest management, chain of custody, and sustainability claims. It is comparable to Responsible Wood as a certifier of sustainable forestry and responsible sourcing claims for downstream brands and retailers.
• Control Union: An international certification and inspection body providing sustainable forestry and chain of custody certifications aligned to PEFC and FSC. Comparable to Responsible Wood in providing the third-party verification layer that enables certified claims for forest products.

Others

• Australian Forestry Standard Ltd: The underlying Australian Standards body whose constitution is maintained alongside Responsible Wood. It is the immediate governance and standards-development sibling entity rather than a market competitor, but materially related as the legal vehicle behind Responsible Wood's standard-setting activities.

Regional players

• Forest Stewardship Council Australia: FSC's national representative in Australia offering FSC-certified forest management and chain of custody. The most direct in-country head-to-head alternative for Australian forest owners and supply chain companies choosing between PEFC-aligned and FSC certification.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ResponsibleWoodAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/responsible-wood
• Instagraminstagram.com/responsiblewood

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Responsible Wood