Ikea U.S. launches two major sustainability initiatives (chainstoreage.com)

PEFC Germany submitted their national forest certification system to PEFC for re-endorsement earlier this month. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 19 April to 18 June 2021. PEFC Germany revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we are holding a webinar on 19 April, at 10:00 CEST. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome.

PAFC Congo Basin submitted their regional forest certification system to PEFC for endorsement in December last year. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this new system, will run from 1 February to 1 April. In order to provide you with additional information about this regional system, we are holding a webinar on 1 February, at 10:00 CET. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. Our national members for Cameroon, Congo and Gabon joined forces under the name of PAFC Congo Basin to develop this regional certification system. The shared language and the similar forestry conditions in the three neighbouring countries enables PAFC Cameroon, PAFC Congo and PAFC Gabon to share one system.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is seeking candidates for a working group to revise its complaints and appeals procedures. The call for applicants is open until 12 July 2024. The working group will comprise of four (4) members who will be selected based on the following criteria: Experience in: *Developing operational non-judicial grievance and remediation mechanisms. *Managing complicated dispute cases. *Implementing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. *Managing human rights and socio-environmental sustainability due diligence processes *Using the FSC complaints system or other relevant complaints systems as a party to a complaint. Knowledge in: *FSC’s normative framework, in particular its certification standards, Policy for Association, Remedy Framework, as well as the complaints mechanisms of the various actors in FSC’s certification system. *Measures to ensure equal access to complaints mechanisms according to the needs and challenges faced by users, in particular local forest communities and Indigenous Peoples. *The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. *Best practices on grievance and remediation mechanisms, including the establishment and use of ombuds services.