ASTM D7612-10
(Practice)Standard Practice for Categorizing Wood and Wood-Based Products According to Their Fiber Sources
Standard Practice for Categorizing Wood and Wood-Based Products According to Their Fiber Sources
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Voluntary forest certification systems have become an important factor in promoting sustainable forest management. The standards in use are highly variable, however. Even within a family of standards with a common label there is the potential for wide variations in practices. This prevents producers and consumers from using a certification label to characterize products according to a specific set of qualities or values. This practice creates a framework to differentiate products based on a set of qualities and values identified as important in the market for wood products.
This practice is intended to be used by producers, distributors, retailers, or consumers who wish to understand where a product fits within three categories. At a minimum, the user will need to know the geographic origin of the wood going into a product and whether it is labeled or otherwise certified to a procurement system or chain of custody based on a voluntary forest management or certification standard. Producers who want to use this practice must be able to identify the geographic origin of the wood to at least the level needed to support the claims to consumers associated with a given category and described in 6.1.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice sets forth minimum criteria and evaluation requirements for products employing the use of different systems to trace wood fiber to sources operating under different forest management or forest certification systems.
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to provide wood products manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with a system to provide clear, objective information to communicate to consumers regarding product conformance to different wood fiber tracing systems within specific forest management or forest certification programs. It provides a structure that segregates the different types of labels and tracing systems in use among major forest certification standards and other voluntary and regulatory standards governing the production of forest products.
Note 1—The principles in this practice apply internationally, provided that the required information is available to support categorization. For example, products certified to the globally recognized forest certification standards will meet the “Certified Sources” category regardless of their origin, and documented risk assessments (noted in Appendix X5) provide the basis upon which raw materials sourced from Canada and the United States can be deemed to meet the “Legal Sources” category. To categorize raw materials sourced outside of Canada and the United States as “Legal Sources,” it is recommended that the adopting entity develop supplemental provisions to address country-specific issues as needed.
1.2.1 This practice provides an objective basis to differentiate among:
1.2.1.1 Non-controversial (that is, legal) sources of forest products,
1.2.1.2 Responsible sources of forest products (that is, non-controversial sources together with certified procurement systems or from forests managed using responsible practices), and
1.2.1.3 Certified sources of forest products (that is, non-controversial sources together with certified chain of custody).
1.2.2 This practice is intended to provide a framework to help wood product vendors identify the competent and reliable evidence needed to substantiate product claims as required by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (also known as “The Green Guides”).
1.2.3 Products from unknown sources are not covered by this practice.
1.2.4 This practice is intended for voluntary use by manufacturers, distributors, retailers, consumers, and standards developers in the wood products sector.
1.3 The category structure of this practice is derived from publicly available sources or based on the provisions of various forest management or forest certification standards. Documentation of compliance with specific category requirem...
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: D7612 − 10
StandardPractice for
Categorizing Wood and Wood-Based Products According to
1
Their Fiber Sources
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7612; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for the Use of
Environmental Marketing Claims (also known as “The Green
1.1 This practice sets forth minimum criteria and evaluation
Guides”).
requirements for products employing the use of different
1.2.3 Products from unknown sources are not covered by
systemstotracewoodfibertosourcesoperatingunderdifferent
this practice.
forest management or forest certification systems.
1.2.4 This practice is intended for voluntary use by
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to provide wood products
manufacturers, distributors, retailers, consumers, and standards
manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with a system to
developers in the wood products sector.
provide clear, objective information to communicate to con-
1.3 The category structure of this practice is derived from
sumers regarding product conformance to different wood fiber
publiclyavailablesourcesorbasedontheprovisionsofvarious
tracing systems within specific forest management or forest
forest management or forest certification standards. Documen-
certification programs. It provides a structure that segregates
tation of compliance with specific category requirements is the
the different types of labels and tracing systems in use among
responsibilityoftheuser.Theobjectiveofthiscategorizationis
major forest certification standards and other voluntary and
to provide a concise and easily communicated description
regulatory standards governing the production of forest prod-
based on grouping of significant practices. It is possible that
ucts.
this grouping will result in some consolidation of concepts and
NOTE 1—The principles in this practice apply internationally, provided
practices of individual programs. Details of these practices or
that the required information is available to support categorization. For
categorization of products complying with more than one
example, products certified to the globally recognized forest certification
program are beyond the scope of this practice.
standards will meet the “Certified Sources” category regardless of their
origin, and documented risk assessments (noted in Appendix X5) provide
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the basis upon which raw materials sourced from Canada and the United
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
States can be deemed to meet the “Legal Sources” category.To categorize
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
raw materials sourced outside of Canada and the United States as “Legal
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Sources,” it is recommended that the adopting entity develop supplemen-
tal provisions to address country-specific issues as needed.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2.1 This practice provides an objective basis to differen-
2. Referenced Documents
tiate among:
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2.1.1 Non-controversial (that is, legal) sources of forest
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Prod-
products,
ucts
1.2.1.2 Responsible sources of forest products (that is,
D7480 Guide for Evaluating the Attributes of a Forest
non-controversial sources together with certified procurement
Management Plan
systems or from forests managed using responsible practices),
2.2 Other References:
and
FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, Annex 2
1.2.1.3 Certified sources of forest products (that is, non-
Federal Trade Commission, Commercial Practices, Chap-
controversial sources together with certified chain of custody).
ter I, Subchapter B; Guides and Trade Practice Rules,
1.2.2 This practice is intended to provide a framework to
Part 260—Guides for the Use of Environmental Market-
help wood product vendors identify the competent and reliable
ing Claims
evidence needed to substantiate product claims as required by
1 2
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D07 on Wood and For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.08 on Forests. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved May 1, 2010. Published May 2010. DOI:10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D7612–10. the ASTM website.
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...
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