Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Innovative approaches to standardisation in forest commodity science: Trends and prospects

Oleksandr Sytnyk, Ivan Kimeichuk
Download article
Abstract

It is important to create a regulatory environment for the integration of digital technologies into standardisation procedures. The aim of the study was to examine the possibilities for harmonising the Ukrainian regulatory framework with international requirements, identify barriers to the introduction of innovations, and outline the prospects for the development of the industry until 2030. The study used methods of comparative analysis of regulatory documents, content analysis of publications, analytical and descriptive methods. Both Ukrainian (DSTU) and international standards (ISO, FSC, PEFC) regulating the requirements for the quality, safety and environmental friendliness of forest products were considered. The study revealed modern innovative approaches to standardisation in forest commodity science, among which digital technologies, blockchain systems, artificial intelligence algorithms and remote monitoring tools played a key role. Based on the analysis of foreign experience (Germany, Canada, Sweden) and Ukrainian practice, the effectiveness of digital platforms for compliance control, online certification systems, the use of drones and satellite monitoring has been proven. It has been determined that leading countries have already implemented integrated ecosystems that combine standards, intelligent algorithms, and certification chains. In Ukraine, electronic product coding and the creation of databases of certified sites have been initiated, but further development is hampered by underfunding, fragmented policies and a lack of personnel. Areas for improvement have been proposed: attracting international technical assistance, developing public-private partnerships and updating educational programmes. Particular attention is paid to the need to form a single unified system for the evaluation of forest products in accordance with international trade requirements. The results of this study can serve as a basis for strategic decisions in the field of modernisation of the Ukrainian standardisation system

Keywords

forest products, FSC certification, digital technologies, sustainable development, quality control, innovations in forestry

Suggested citation
Sytnyk, O., & Kimeichuk, I. (2025). Innovative approaches to standardisation in forest commodity science: Trends and prospects. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 21(3),24-36. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/3.2025.24
References
  1. Bondarenko, S.M., & Kopa, A.V. (2017). Forest quality control, standardization and certification in Ukraine. Economy and Society, 12, 185-192.
  2. Bösch, M. (2025). What explains the uneven uptake of forest certification at the global level? New evidence from a panel-data analysis. World Development, 188, article number 106890. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106890.
  3. Chain of custody certification. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://fsc.org/en/chain-of-custody.
  4. Chen, J., Wang, L., Li, L., Magalhães, J., Song, W., Lu, W., Xiong, L., Chang, W.-Y., & Sun, Y. (2020). Effect of forest certification on international trade in forest products. Forests, 11(12), article number 1270. doi: 10.3390/f11121270.
  5. Deyneka, A. (2013). The development of forest certification in Ukraine: The state, problems and prospects. Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 23(15), 15-20.
  6. DSTU 2152-93. (1993). Flaws in wood and processing defects. Terms and definitions. Retrieved from https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/doc-page.html?id_doc=112503.
  7. DSTU 2980-95. (1995). Forest plantations. Terms and definitions. Retrieved from https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/doc-page?id_doc=91433.
  8. DSTU 3404-96. (1996). Forestry. Terms and definitions. Retrieved from https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/doc-page.html?id_doc=91447.
  9. DSTU EN 1309-1:2001. (2001). Round and sawn timber. Method of measurement of dimensions. Part 1: Sawn timber. Retrieved from https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/doc-page.html?id_doc=90086.
  10. DSTU EN 1309-3. (2018). Round and sawn timber. Methods of measurements. Part 3: Features and biological degradations. Retrieved from https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/doc-page.html?id_doc=83700.
  11. Ehrlich-Sommer, F., Hoenigsberger, F., Gollob, C., Nothdurft, A., Stampfer, K., & Holzinger, A. (2024). Sensors for digital transformation in smart forestry. Sensors, 24(3), article number 798. doi: 10.3390/s24030798.
  12. Exploring the impact of the Paris Agreement on ISO 14001 certification market value. (2024). University of Liverpool. Retrieved from https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/management/blog/research/exploring-the-impact-of-the-paris-agreement-on=iso-14001-certification-market-value.
  13. Fernholz, K., Bowyer, J., Erickson, G., Groot, H., Jacobs, M., McFarland, A., & Pepke, E. (2021). Forest certification update 2021: The pace of change. Retrieved from https://dovetailinc.org/upload/tmp/1611160123.pdf.
  14. Forest Bioeconomy Cluster. (n.d.). Foresight. Retrieved from https://foresightcac.com/bioeconomy-cluster.
  15. FSC Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://fsc.org/en/standards.
  16. FSC. (n.d.). How does FSC respond to EUDR challenges? Retrieved from https://ua.fsc.org/ua-uk/EUDR.
  17. Hayda, Y.I. (2015). Forest certification as a tool for environmental marketing of forestry enterprises. Efektyvna Ekonomika, 1.
  18. He, Z., & Turner, P. (2022). Blockchain applications in forestry: A systematic literature review. Applied Sciences, 12(8), article number 3723. doi: 10.3390/app12083723.
  19. ISO 14001:2015. (2015). Environmental management systems – requirements with guidance for use. Retrieved from https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#iso:std:iso:14001:ed-3:v1:en.
  20. ISO 38200:2018. (2018). Chain of custody of wood and wood-based products. Retrieved from https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#iso:std:iso:38200:ed-1:v1:en.
  21. Khomiuk, P.H., Osadchuk, L.S., & Portakh, S.V. (2021). History of development and features of implementation of standards on mensuration of forest merchantable wood volume and procured round timber. Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 31(3), 41-47. doi: 10.36930/40310302.
  22. Klaric, K., Pirc Barcic, A., & Basarac Sertic, M. (2023). Assessing the role of forest certification and macroeconomic indicators on Croatian wood exports. Forests, 14(9), article number 1908. doi: 10.3390/f14091908.
  23. Law of Ukraine No. 1315-VII “On Standardisation”. (2014, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1315-18#Text.
  24. Lombardo, E., Crescimanno, M., Vrontis, D., & Galati, A. (2021). Driving forces affecting the adoption of certifications in the forest-based industry: A systematic literature review. Journal for Global Business Advancement, 14(4), article number 453.  doi:10.1504/jgba.2021.118747.
  25. Makarova, V., Mohylna, L., & Tkachenko, A. (2023). Innovative directions for the development of distribution foreign activity of forestry enterprises due to information and digital technologies. Modern Economics, 39(1), 104-111. doi: 10.31521/modecon.v39(2023)-16.
  26. Marchenko, N., Buyskih, N., & Mazurchu, S. (2017). To the use of harmonized with European standards of softwood round timber. Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science, (266), 200-211.
  27. Mattsson, E., Karlsson, P.E., Erlandsson, M., Nilsson, Å., & Holmström, H. (2024). Indicators of sustainable forestry: Methodological approaches for impact assessments across Swedish forestry. Sustainability, 16(8), article number 3331. doi: 10.3390/su16083331.
  28. Mendela, Y. (2022). Innovative development of the forest industry of Ukraine. Herald of Khmelnytskyi National University. Economic Sciences, 312(6(1)), 50-60. doi: 10.31891/2307-5740-2022-312-6(1)-8.
  29. Monitor deforestation across your supply chain and comply with EUDR. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://space-solutions.airbus.com/industries/forest-and-environment/starling/.
  30. Mykytyn, O.Z. (2015). Features of national system adaptation of wood and commercial timbers certification according to technical regulations of EU. Commodity Bulletin, (8), 73-81.
  31. Myroniuk, V., Weinreich, A., von Dosky, V., Melnychenko, V., Shamrai, A., Matsala, M., Gregory, M.J., Bell, D.M., & Davis, R. (2024). Nationwide remote sensing framework for forest resource assessment in war-affected Ukraine. Forest Ecology and Management, 569, article number 122156. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122156.
  32. Online micro-certificate: Forest management planning. (2025). UBC Faculty of Forestry. Retrieved from https://forestry.ubc.ca/future-students/certificates/forest-management-planning/.
  33. Paper Province. (n.d.). Success stories. Building the society of the future together. Retrieved from https://paperprovince.com/en/success-stories/.
  34. Pavlishchuk, O., Kravets, P., & Сhurilov, A. (2022). Integration of environmental values into the management system of forestry enterprises in accordance with the requirements of forest certification. Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science, 13(4), 84-95. doi: 10.31548/forest.13(4).2022.84-95.
  35. PEFC Germany. (n.d.). PEFC – programme for the endorsement of forest certification. Retrieved from https://www.pefc.org/discover-pefc/our-pefc-members/national-members/pefc-germany.
  36. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Bećirović, D., Marić, B., Nedeljković, J., Posavec, S., Petrović, N., & Avdibegović, M. (2019). Contribution of forest stewardship council certification to sustainable forest management of state forests in selected Southeast European countries. Forests, 10(8), article number 648. doi: 10.3390/f10080648.
  37. Standards and implementation. (2023). PEFC. Retrieved from https://www.pefc.org/standards-implementation.
  38. State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine. (2024). Digital tools to combat corruption in Ukraine’s forestry sector: Focus on systemic changes. Retrieved from https://forest.gov.ua/news/tsyfrovi-instrumenty-dlia-borotby-z-koruptsiieiu-u-lisovii-haluzi-ukrainy-fokus-na-systemni-zminy.
  39. Stopfer, L., Kaulen, A., & Purfürst, T. (2024). Potential of blockchain technology in wood supply chains. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 216, article number 108496. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2023.108496.
  40. Stubenrauch, J., Garske, B., Ekardt, F., & Hagemann, K. (2022). European forest governance: Status quo and optimising options with regard to the Paris climate target. Sustainability, 14(7), article number 4365. doi:10.3390/su14074365.
  41. The future of forestry: High-tech tools leading the way. (2024). Agri machinery. Retrieved from https://agrimachinery.africa/harvesting/forestry/the-future-of-forestry-high-tech-tools-leading-the-way/.
  42. The German National Forest Inventory. (n.d.). Thuenen: Startseite. Retrieved from https://www.thuenen.de/en/thuenen-topics/forests/the-german-national-forest-inventory.
  43. Updates on Ukrainian forest status. (n.d.). FOREST EUROPE. Retrieved from https://foresteurope.org/updates-on-ukrainian-forest-status/.
  44. USDA Forest Service. (n.d.). Forest products modernization. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/forest-products-modernization.