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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA deforestation-free supply chain is one that can trace relevant commodities to their origins and assess them against a stated deforestation standard. Under the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), covered commodities must come from land that was not deforested after 31 December 2020; wood products must also meet a condition on forest degradation after that date. A company’s voluntary use of the same phrase may follow a different standard, so the label alone does not tell you what was checked.
What does “deforestation-free” mean?
The phrase has a specific legal meaning in Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, known as the EUDR. For covered goods, the relevant commodity must not have been produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020. For products made from or containing wood, the regulation also addresses forest degradation after that date. Covered products must be deforestation-free and legally produced, with due diligence carried out by businesses within the regulation’s scope. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products
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Companies and certification schemes can also use “deforestation-free” in voluntary claims. Those claims are not automatically equivalent to the EUDR test. To understand one, find out which commodity and products it covers, what standard it uses, how far traceability reaches, and what the verification actually checks.
Which products and commodities are covered?
The EUDR covers cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, as well as certain products made from or using them. Examples named by the European Commission include leather, chocolate, tyres and furniture. The regulation’s product list determines what is in scope: a product is not covered simply because it contains one of these commodities. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products
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These raw materials also appear in familiar foods and goods, such as coffee, chocolate, furniture and paper, as well as some household or cosmetic products. That can help you spot possible connections, but it does not establish that a particular item is legally covered or substantiate a company’s sourcing claim. Check the product’s exact scope and the brand’s explanation.
What traceability and due diligence involve
For businesses covered by the EUDR, due diligence starts with gathering product and supplier information. This includes the product description, quantity, supplier and country of production, along with relevant evidence that production complied with applicable laws. The business assesses risk and takes mitigation steps when needed. Geolocation data is part of the traceability framework, helping connect a product to where its commodity was produced. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products
When reading a company’s claim, look for clear answers to these questions:
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- Which commodity or ingredient does the claim cover?
- Does it apply to a specific product, a named ingredient, or the company’s entire range?
- What origin or traceability information does the company disclose?
- Is the claim based on a law, certification standard, company policy or credit contribution?
- Who verifies the claim, and what does that verification check?
These are practical questions for consumers, not a legal checklist imposed on them. The European Commission’s guidance says the EUDR does not impose requirements on non-commercial consumers acting in private use or consumption; the primary due-diligence duties belong to applicable businesses. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products European Commission: EUDR guidance, 20 July 2026
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How to read a certification label: the RSPO palm-oil example
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) uses four supply-chain models. They describe different relationships between certified production and the palm oil in a product; a logo does not mean that every model provides the same physical traceability.
| RSPO model | What it means |
|---|---|
| Identity Preserved | Material comes from one identifiable certified source and is kept separate from ordinary oil. |
| Segregated | Material from certified sources may be combined, but it remains separate from ordinary oil. |
| Mass Balance | Certified and ordinary palm oil can be mixed. RSPO says a Mass Balance product contains a mix of certified sustainable and conventional palm oil. |
| RSPO Credits / Book and Claim | Purchased credits support certified production; the model does not represent the physical oil in a particular product as segregated certified oil. |
These distinctions matter if you want to know what is physically in a product. Identity Preserved and Segregated models keep certified material separate from ordinary oil; Mass Balance permits mixing, while Credits or Book and Claim support certified production through credits rather than physical segregation. RSPO: Supply chain models RSPO: Trademark and logo RSPO: What is Mass Balance?
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Certification can be useful evidence, but it is not automatic proof that a product or business complies with a separate law. RSPO’s published summary of its gap analysis reported technical and fundamental gaps between the RSPO standards it compared and EUDR requirements. A certification may support an assessment; applicable businesses still have distinct legal obligations and must meet the relevant evidence requirements. RSPO: RSPO and EUDR
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How consumers can assess a deforestation-free claim
- Identify the commodity. Work out whether the claim concerns cocoa, palm oil, wood or another input. Different commodities and products can involve different sourcing and traceability questions.
- Read the exact scope. Check whether the statement applies to a particular ingredient, product or the whole company range.
- Find out what kind of claim it is. Look for whether it describes physical traceability, a certification, a company policy or a credit model. For palm oil, distinguish Identity Preserved and Segregated material from Mass Balance and credit models.
- Compare evidence, not just logos. Consider origin disclosure, chain-of-custody model, independent verification, the standard’s coverage and how specific and current the product claim is.
- Ask for the missing detail. If the wording is vague, ask the brand: “Which commodity does this claim cover, what standard or chain-of-custody model applies, and where can I read the latest verification information?”
A broad “deforestation-free” statement is a starting point for checking the named standard, traceability, scope and verification method—not proof by itself. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products RSPO: RSPO and EUDR
When does the EUDR apply in the EU?
As of 4 October 2026, the European Commission lists these application dates:
| Business or product category | Application date listed by the Commission |
|---|---|
| Large and medium operators | 30 December 2026 |
| Micro and small operators | 30 June 2027 |
| Micro and small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation | 30 December 2026 |
| Certain products newly added to the EUDR’s scope | 30 December 2027 |
These dates reflect the Commission’s overview as of 4 October 2026; the regulation’s dates and scope have been amended, so consult the Commission’s current page for the latest information. The law primarily regulates businesses placing covered goods on the EU market or exporting them, rather than people buying goods for private use. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products
The Commission states that the regulation aims to cut emissions linked to EU consumption and production of covered commodities by at least 32 million tonnes per year. This is a policy objective, not a measured reduction already achieved. European Commission: Regulation on deforestation-free products
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