Sustainability certifications (organic, eco-labels)

Below is a complete, industry-aligned list of sustainability certifications relevant to Agarwood cultivation, agroforestry operations, extraction facilities, and export products—including organic, eco-labels, ethical trade, sustainable forest-product certifications, and carbon-related standards.
This is tailored to your companies (CAPI, CESI, COPI, AGAC, PAFC, ANOC, CREDI, COFI).

🌿 1. ORGANIC CERTIFICATIONS

Organic certification strengthens your branding for eco-friendly consumers and high-end perfumers.

1.1. USDA Organic

Scope: Plantations, nurseries, organic fertilizers (COFI), essential oils.
Certifiers in PH:

  • Control Union Philippines
  • EcoCert
  • OCCP (Organic Certification Center of the Philippines)

Requirements:

  • No synthetic fertilizers/pesticides
  • Organic media and soil management
  • Documentation of inputs
  • 3-year conversion period

1.2. EU Organic (Regulation (EU) 2018/848)

Required for exports to EU.

Covers:

  • Aquilaria plantations
  • Oil extraction (if no synthetic solvents)
  • Agroforestry management

Documents needed:

  • Farm maps, input logs, harvest logs
  • Certificate of inspection (COI) via TRACES system

1.3. Halal Organic Certification (for Middle East markets)

Covers:

  • Agarwood oil
  • Perfumes
  • Herbal teas (CAHTI)
  • Organic fertilizers

Certifying bodies:

  • IDCP Halal
  • JAKIM (Malaysia; widely recognized in GCC)

🌱 2. SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY & ECO-LABEL CERTIFICATIONS

Agarwood—being a forest-based species—benefits strongly from forestry-related eco-labels.

2.1. FSC Certification (Forest Stewardship Council)

Highly valuable for international buyers.

2 Types Relevant to You:

✔ FSC Forest Management (FM)

For CAPI, PAFC:

  • Verifies sustainable forest/agroforest operations.

Covers:

  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Fair wages & labor practices
  • Indigenous rights
  • Chemical management
  • Zero illegal logging

✔ FSC Chain of Custody (CoC)

For CESI, ANOC:

  • Ensures traceability from farm to extraction to export.

2.2. PEFC Certification (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)

Alternative to FSC.
More flexible for plantations in developing countries.

2.3. Rainforest Alliance (RA) Certification

Applicable to:

  • Sustainable agroforestry
  • Ethical sourcing
  • Carbon-positive plantations

Covers:

  • Climate-smart farming
  • Community rights
  • Ecosystem protection

2.4. FairWild Certification

For sustainably managed non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
Perfect for:

  • Cultivated Aquilaria
  • Indigenous community partnerships (AGAC)

This assures buyers NO wild extraction.

🌿 3. ECO-LABELS FOR ESSENTIAL OILS & NATURAL PRODUCTS

3.1. COSMOS Organic / Natural (EU Cosmetic Standard)

Relevant for ANOC (Ethereal Scent oils):

  • Assurance of natural origin
  • Bans synthetic solvents
  • Sets purity/minimum organic content
  • Required by many EU cosmetic brands

Certifiers:

  • EcoCert
  • Soil Association
  • BDIH

3.2. ISO 9235 – Natural Aromatic Raw Materials

Defines “natural” essential oils.
Required for:

  • European perfumers
  • GCC perfumery distributors

3.3. Non-GMO Certification

Especially relevant for lab-based organogenesis (COPI).
Ensures no GMO modification used.

3.4. EcoLabel (EU Environmental Label)

Can be applied to:

  • Finished perfumes
  • Incense products
  • Essential oils

Indicates low environmental footprint.

🛖 4. SOCIAL, ETHICAL, AND FAIR-TRADE CERTIFICATIONS

4.1. Fair Trade Certification (WFTO / FairTrade International)

Core components:

  • Fair labor wages
  • Ethical working conditions
  • Community development fund
  • Anti-exploitation safeguards

Beneficial for AGAC and farmer cooperatives.

4.2. SA8000 – Social Accountability Standard

For plantation & extraction labor management:

  • No child labor
  • Proper safety gear
  • Ethical working hours
  • Documentation & contracts

4.3. B Corp Certification (High-value branding)

Assesses:

  • Sustainability
  • Social impact
  • Governance
  • Community engagement

Great for consumer-facing brands (CAHTI, ANOC).

🌏 5. CLIMATE, CARBON & BIODIVERSITY CERTIFICATIONS

Perfect for CAPI, CREDI agroforestry estates, and carbon farming integration.

5.1. Verra VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)

For carbon credits from:

  • Agroforestry
  • Reforestation
  • Soil carbon
  • Biomass growth

Carbon credits can be sold internationally.

5.2. Gold Standard Certification

Includes:

  • Carbon
  • Sustainable development goals (SDGs)
  • Community impact measurement

5.3. ART TREES (Advanced REDD+ Carbon Standard)

Useful if your plantations are large-scale (≥100 ha).

5.4. ISO 14064 (Carbon Accounting)

For corporate carbon reporting.
Can be combined with GHG Protocol.

5.5. IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions

Qualifies your plantations as certified NbS projects.
Useful for ESG investors.

🧩 6. CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY AND TRACEABILITY CERTIFICATIONS

6.1. ISO 22095 – Chain of Custody

Covers:

  • Record-keeping
  • Batch-level tracking
  • Digital traceability
  • Control points from tree → chip → oil → export

6.2. Blockchain or QR-based Transparency Labels

Consumers scan QR code for:

  • Farm location
  • Farmer’s name
  • Harvest batch
  • Resin induction method
  • GC-MS results
  • CITES permit number

Great for premium Middle East and EU buyers.

🌍 7. COUNTRY-SPECIFIC ECO-LABEL AUTHORIZATIONS

7.1. GCC (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain)

  • SFDA certification for oils
  • Dubai Municipality Health Certificate
  • Halal certification
  • Certificate of Origin + CITES (mandatory)

7.2. Japan

  • JAS Organic (for teas, extracts)
  • Japanese Essential Oil Standards (JEA)

7.3. Korea

  • Korean Organic Standard
  • KFDA testing for oils

🎯 8. Recommended Certification Path for Your Companies

PAFC / CAPI (Plantations)

  • FSC FM or PEFC
  • Organic (OCCP or EcoCert)
  • Rainforest Alliance
  • ISO 14001
  • Carbon Standard (Verra/Gold Standard)

CESI (Supercritical CO₂ Extraction)

  • ISO 22095 (CoC)
  • COSMOS Natural
  • Halal for oils
  • IFRA compliance
  • ISO 14001 & 45001

AGAC (Cooperative)

  • FairTrade
  • FSC Controlled Wood
  • SA8000
  • FairWild

ANOC (Ethereal Scent brand)

  • COSMOS Organic
  • ISO 9235 compliance
  • Eco-label
  • Halal
  • ISO 22716 (cosmetic GMP)

CAHTI (Tea & Wellness Products)

  • USDA / EU Organic
  • Halal Organic
  • HACCP

CREDI (Eco-estate development)

  • IUCN NbS standard
  • ISO 14064
  • Carbon certification (Verra)

COFI (Organic fertilizer)

  • Organic Input Certification (OCCP)
  • ISO 9001
  • EcoLabel options

📘 9. I can prepare any of the following for you next:

📌 Sustainability Certification Roadmap (12-month plan)
📌 Organic Certification Manual (for audit-readiness)
📌 FSC/PEFC Documentation Package
📌 Traceability & CoC SOP Manual
📌 ESG Policy + Sustainability Report
📌 Carbon Project Concept Note (for Verra/Gold Standard)
📌 COSMOS Organic compliance checklist for your essential oils

Let me know which deliverable you want and I will prepare it.