Opinel reaffirms its commitment to sustainability of forest heritage through PEFC certification

14 October 2024 Certification on the ground

Opinel, a symbol of French craftsmanship and proud ambassador of the Savoie region in France, has taken another step forward in its commitment to forest sustainability.

During an official ceremony at its Chambéry workshops, the company was awarded PEFC certification, confirming that the wood used in its iconic knives comes from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.

For 135 years, world-renowned company Opinel, has continued to stand out for its local roots, unique expertise, and environmentally friendly approach. The achievement of PEFC certification strengthens this historic commitment.

Through its PEFC certification, Opinel assures the owners of Opinel knives that the used wood comes from sustainably managed forests, and that all forest owners and workers, as well as companies in the forest-wood-paper sector, have committed to applying the requirements for sustainable forest management and PEFC wood traceability.

PEFC certification: A tool attesting to Opinel's commitment to forest sustainability

In France, more than 83,000 forest owners and 3,200 companies are engaged with PEFC, representing over a third of the forested areas of mainland France and two-thirds of the country's wood production.

By obtaining PEFC certification, Opinel is committed to implementing PEFC wood traceability rules to prove that the beech and hornbeam wood used to produce its knives is sourced from sustainably managed PEFC-certified forests and controlled sources.

The company has even sought to go further. With the support of PEFC teams in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Opinel is particularly committed to preserving and promoting local heritage by sourcing wood from PEFC-certified forests in the Jura and Vercors regions in France, and working with PEFC-certified companies in the local forest-wood sector.

All actors involved, from forest owners to wood processing companies, comply with the requirements of sustainable forest management and PEFC-certified material traceability, ensuring the long-term viability of local forest resources for future generations.

“We are especially proud to count Opinel among the PEFC-certified companies, a symbol of French craftsmanship with international recognition. Opinel demonstrates that it is possible to act for the preservation of forests daily by integrating wood traceability practices and sustainable purchasing policies with PEFC certification. This collective effort highlights the value of French forest heritage, and all the sector’s stakeholders committed to sustainable forest management. It’s a powerful example to inspire other companies to follow this path,” said Christine de Neuville, President of PEFC France.

A symbolic event at Opinel's workshops

The PEFC certification ceremony took place on Thursday 10 October at the Opinel workshops in Chambéry. Certified since April 2024, this event celebrated Opinel's commitment to the sustainability of forests and the enhancement of local heritage.

It brought together numerous regional stakeholders, representatives from the forestry sector, as well as partners of Opinel and PEFC, to highlight the importance of sustainable forest management.

“We are very proud to have realised this project with the attainment of PEFC certification. For 12 years, we have been using certified wood without being certified ourselves and using packaging from PEFC-certified manufacturers. Our certification is a great confirmation of our commitment to the environment, which our customers are very sensitive to. We are now certified for beech and hornbeam, and we will communicate this achievement on our products and gradually extend certification to other species,” says François Opinel, President of Opinel.

“This approach reaffirms our desire to offer products that stand the test of time and ensure sustainability.”

Photo credits: PEFC France