OLB certification, the guarantee for legality your customers are asking for
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Business Challenge
For the last 20 years, illegally purchased woods have represented a major issue regarding both private and public wood supplying policies.
As a result, since 2000, Governmental and Intergovernmental Organisations decided to consider the situation as a real threat and set up strict measures to find a solution for non acceptable practices.
For forest operators, this means a growing need to guarantee that purchased wood products are legal, which can not be separated from a good knowledge of geographical origins.
Solution
Some explanations about OLB The OLB system (Origine et Légalité des Bois, in French, which may be translated as Timber Origin and Legality) was developed in 2004 by World Center for Certification & Quality Certification to meet our clients demand for an official third party certificate regarding their wood products legality. It is based on:
- A certificate intended to forest companies
- A certificate intended to processing and trading companies
The OLB certificate is based on the respect of the standard for the certification of forest companies. This document describes the requirements to fulfil in order to comply with legal requirements in regards to forest management and logging activities, people employment, security, environment impact. It also mainly deals with wood traceability within the company until the sale or primary processing.
The certification of wood processing and trading companies is based on the respect of the chain of custody standard. This document describes the requirements to meet to be entitled to sell OLB certified wood and to use the OLB trademark on companies products.
In addition to OLB certification, the wood processing and trading companies can beOLB+ certified. The fulfilment of OLB+ requirements allows the company to demonstrate that it respects social and environmental supplementary principles as this is becoming increasingly a requirement for the general public, public procurements and international organizations.
The fulfilment of the additional OLB+ requirements is an additional step which is optional but is not required to obtain the OLB certificate.
OLB, an international system based on:
- A strict and true legality
- Traceability requirements adapted to forest companies
- A simple, though efficient, follow up of wood products (chain of custody).
Our methodology The key steps in our approach are:
- Production of a specific contract for your company
- Pre-assessment (optional) based on an analysis of the gaps between your present situation and the standard requirements
- Initial assessment: global assessment against the standard requirements
- Certification committee decision
- Certificate issuance
- Surveillance audits to verify the continuity of your system conformity
- After a 5 years period, certificate renewal
At each stage, a complete report will be provided and we ensure a follow up of your certificate throughout its validity period.
FAQ
How to value my OLB certification?
The OLB certification is a wood legality certification scheme which offers complete field assessments. Although it requires a high level of rigour from the companies, the detailed assessments provide the necessary security and credibility which are needed in this kind of approach.
Why should you ask for an OLB certification?
The OLB certification is above all the recognition that wood products are legally logged and traced in industry. It is also a commercial tool based on a mutual confidence between the supplier and its client which helps to maintain business or gain new markets. Since January 25, 2011, OLB was admitted to the "Keurhout-Legal System”. This system recognizes certification schemes ensuring that certified companies comply with the national and international laws, conducting annual audits for each company and the quality and independence of the certification body (For more information www.keurhout.nl).
How much time and money are needed for this certification?
The certification costs depend on the size of the company, its degree of complexity and kind of organisation. Between the official application and the certificate issuance, it may take several weeks or few months, especially if the audited structure is complex or if there is much work to implement the certification requirement in the company. Do not hesitate to contact us for a quotation or for any further information.
Why Choose World Center for Certification & Quality
All services of the forestry World Center for Certification & Quality department are performed by experts of this domain. They know your needs, your activity and your constraints. - World Center for Certification & Quality Certification is the only one to provide this service. - World Center for Certification & Quality Certification, the certification world leader has a strong international network attending in 110 countries.
Business Challenge
