From raw timber to engineered products, Source Certain tests the product itself to confirm species and origin. Using microscopy, trace element analysis and isotope ratios, we provide defensible results that support deforestation-free claims and regulatory reporting.
Forestry Identification & Traceability
Our wood and timber testing services support due diligence required for various regulations, including: European Union Deforestation Regulation, the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation, the United Kingdom Timber Regulation, United States Lacey Act.
Source Certain collaborates with various stakeholders within the timber industry, including retailers, regulators, traders, auditors and certification bodies, providing essential tests to support wood identification and due diligence. Our state-of-the-art laboratory in Perth, Western Australia, is strategically positioned to cater to the needs of the Australian timber industry and global businesses engaged with manufacturers in Asia.
Our wood and timber testing services
Explore our wood and timber testing services below. If you are unsure which service best suits you, please talk to our friendly team, and we’ll be happy to help.
Wood Anatomy Verification
Our Wood Anatomy service verifies the claimed species of wood.
Wood Anatomy is a scientific service that verifies the species claim of timber or wood products. We use advanced microscopy methods to deliver this service. Wood anatomy is recommended for forestry industry members who require a reliable, data-based due diligence solution to mitigate sourcing risk. Our trained wood anatomists can accurately identify most wood species in trade using microscopic and macroscopic methods to genus level (e.g., acacia, rubberwood, beech, pine, ash). Genus and generic names are commonly used in trade, making wood microscopy suitable for most trade verifications.
Wood anatomy is also known as wood identification, wood taxonomy and wood microscopy.
Suitable wood materials for Wood Anatomy: veneers, flooring, chips of at least 6mm in length, solid wood, furniture, wood biomass materials, plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL)*
*For LVL products, we recommend our Engineered Wood Analysis service, which comprehensively tests all layers of wood, whereas a standard Wood Anatomy test only analyses external layers.
Unsure of what test would work best for your products? Reach out today.
Wood Origin Verification
Our Wood Origin Verification and traceability service verifies the claimed origin of wood.
Origin verification is a scientific service that verifies the harvest origin claim of timber or wood products.
Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis (SIRA) and Trace Element Analysis (TEA) are critical components of our proprietary origin science solution, TSW Trace®. Paired with expert interpretation methods, they enable us to accurately verify timber and wood origin claims. SIRA and TEA are trusted and robust analysis methods, with over twenty years of development and numerous publications supporting their use.
Why is it important to verify the specific harvest origin of wood?
- The timber verification process provides scientific proof that the product is consistent with its claimed origin. This, in turn, validates:
- The integrity of certifications and ESG claims
- Deforestation-free sourcing and supports deforestation-free supply chains.
- Declared satellite imagery and GPS coordinates for the claimed harvest location.
- Specific origin verification of timber and wood adds a layer of confirmation to traceability documentation efforts.
- It enhances the data collection process, enabling more robust reporting on timber sourcing.
- Our data can support due diligence requirements and chain of custody records.
- It provides confidence to investors and key stakeholders that robust timber traceability systems are in place to mitigate material risks associated with ESG, compliance, and reporting.
- It is an accurate tool for determining whether timber has been sourced from a region with known issues related to deforestation, sanctions, or tariffs.
Engineered Wood Analysis and Verification
Our Engineered wood Analysis service verifies the claimed species and origin of all wood included in layered wood products.
Most commercially manufactured LVL and plywood originate from a select group of countries, some of which are currently subject to tariffs or sanctions. These geopolitical complexities make LVL products more susceptible to substitution and mislabelling, making it important to identify wood type and origin to authenticate claims.
Source Certain’s solution for verifying the integrity of layered wood combines Wood Anatomy and Wood Origin Verification into one effective service. Each layer of wood undergoes Wood Anatomy and Wood Origin Verification to deliver an origin and species verification outcome.
This service ensures that imported LVL and plywood products meet the required national standards, especially for construction-grade products. To do so, it is important to verify that they are constructed from the claimed species of timber that originates from its claimed origin.
Suitable wood materials for Engineered wood analysis: layered wood products, including plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL).
Talk to one of our experts
Whether your enquiry is about a service we offer, a request for more information about our technologies, or you would like to know more about Source Certain or our team, please call or send us a message.