Certification Standard for Responsibly Managed Peatlands

This standard (SCS-003, or The Veriflora® Responsibly Managed Peatlands Standard) is applicable to peat moss harvesting operations. It provides a comprehensive framework of environmental, social, and quality requirements for responsible peatland management and peat moss harvesting. Certification against SCS-003 allows producers to demonstrate they implement best management practices that reduce the environmental footprint of peat harvesting, support the restoration of carbon-accumulating wetland ecosystems, protect worker health and safety, and engage responsibly with surrounding communities.  

By promoting continuous improvement and responsible stewardship of peatland resources, SCS-003 certification helps conserve sensitive ecosystems, support climate resilience, and strengthen social and environmental performance across the peat moss industry.

For complete information about all standard criteria, download "SCS-003 Responsibly Managed Peatlands Standard V2.1" (see Documents section, to right).

Assurance System:

Conformance with SCS-003 requirements is assessed through annual audits conducted by SCS Global Services, a qualified and independent third party. Audits are conducted according to scheme-specific and relevant international standards. For full details about the SCS-003 assurance system, download “SCS-003 Certification Body Requirements” (see Documents section, to right).

Empowering Consumers: 

For information about how SCS-003 and other SCS Standards meet the EU Empowering Consumers Directive, see “SCS Standards and the EU Empowering Consumers Directive.”

SCS Standards Operations: 

For information about SCS Standards policies and procedures, see our Resources.