EPF is delighted to have started its Open Part of the Annual General Meeting with an uplifting message from Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.
🎥 Video
🗣️ Speech [downloadable text version]
The Coalition for Circular Choices, launched on 28 March 2023, has outlined its vision and choices for the European bioeconomy’s future in an op-ed published by EURACTIV on Thursday 25 May.
EPF held its last meeting of the Fire & Explosion Safety Task Force on 25 May, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
This meeting, hosted by FINSA gathered around 30 experts from EPF member companies to exchange experiences and discuss best practices on preventive and protective measures as well as training requirements in WBP manufacturing.
Case studies and follow-up actions were discussed before a field visit to FINSA’s headquarters and factory. The next Task Force meeting will be held in Germany on the kind invitation of PFLEIDERER.
More details in our Press Release
Brussels, Friday 12 May 2023
On 9 May, the opening day of the Interzum Trade Fair in Cologne, EPF held a press conference to present the European wood-based panels industry’s provisional 2022 results (indicative only) as well as an outlook for 2023.
Managing Director Mr Clive Pinnington and Technical Director Mr Kris Wijnendaele addressed around 30 trade journalists, members and guests.
Key figures and trends were released.
2022 production fell by more than 6% compared to 2021 and when final numbers are released in June is expected to finish at approximately the same level as the pre-crisis year of 2019. 2022 was a year characterised by a relatively strong first half, followed by a noticeably weaker second half, caused by softening user demand and falling consumer confidence.
Whilst 2023 remains challenging, long-term prospects for wood-based panels remain healthy, as evidenced by continuing announced capacity investments illustrated in the maps in our full presentation, which is available here.
This communication was followed by a presentation of the progress of the EPF’s 5 Strategic Directions and of 5 current advocacy highlights: (1) cascade in legislation (REDIII), (2) New European Bauhaus (NEB), (3) material use of wood, (4) regulation for chemicals, (5) the launch and follow-up actions and appointments of the Coalition for Circular Choices.
The final consolidated 2022 results and further advocacy updates will be presented at the next EPF Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 23 June in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The press conference was a good opportunity to remind our guests that NEB will be at the heart of the discussions during the Open Part of the AGM, with two roundtables dedicated to construction and furniture.
For further information, please contact EPF Administration and Communications Officer:
Mrs Isabelle Henin
+32 2 556 25 89
On the opening day of the Interzum Trade Fair, EPF was delighted to hold a press conference for approximately 30 trade journalists, members and guests.
Managing Director Mr Clive Pinnington presented the European wood-based panels industry’s provisional indicative 2022 results as well as an outlook for 2023 and beyond. The headline comments were:
Technical Director Kris Wijnendaele then updated on EPF’s 5 Strategic Directions and presented 5 advocacy highlights being:
The final consolidated 2022 results as well as further advocacy updates will be given to the press at the next EPF Annual General Meeting on 23 June in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Press Conference Presentation – 9 May 2023
Should you wish to know more about any of the above, please contact info@europanels.org.
EPF is delighted to announce the programme of its AGM 2023 Open Part.
New European Bauhaus (NEB) will be the focus of this day, preceded by welcoming addresses and by the public release of the 2022 EU wood-based panel industry results and insights on EPF’s Advocacy Programme 2023.
The event will be held on Friday 23 June 2023 at the Fontán Building, Cidade da Cultura of Galicia, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, hosted by ANFTA and including the platinum sponsorship of Dieffenbacher.
The meeting will be centred on two interactive sessions:
Programme – Open Part of the EPF AGM 2023 – 23 June
Biography information on the moderators and speakers of the two roundtables
EPF is delighted to have met Mrs Elisabeth Werner, Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission’s Secretariat-General, responsible for Policy Coordination, and officials from the EC’s Secretariat-General this week, with partners of the Coalition for Circular Choices. This appointment held on 12 April followed the launch of the campaign of the cross-sectoral Coalition.
This was the opportunity, at a senior and influential political level in the European Commission, to deliver the executive summary of the Coalition’s strategic document for a competitive EU Bioeconomy and to be recognised as a role model sector and European global champion representing 4 million jobs and €520 billion turnover, aiming to make a positive climate contribution, equivalent of 30% of current EU fossil emissions.
Tuesday 28 March
A new group of 14 EU trade associations including the providers of high-quality wood-based products, fibre-based, paper and board products and packaging, and renewable energy solutions, supported by EU forest owners and managers, has today launched a cross-sectoral coalition. The coalition’s aim is to present EU policymakers with an ambitious common vision ahead of 2030 and, going beyond, one leading to a transition towards a circular bioeconomy.
Now, more than ever, is the time to embed into EU policy the circular bioeconomy as a fully integrated, resilient European value chain. The coalition has made publicly available a paper detailing common challenges, needs, and solutions [STRATEGIC DOCUMENT]. It is also supported by a further 6 associations linked to the forestry sector.
This is the broadest coalition yet representing these value chains. Jointly, its members represent 3% of the EU’s GDP, €520 billion in turnover, and 20% of its manufacturing companies. They are an integrated part of the EU bioeconomy, using local renewably-sourced materials, made and recycled in Europe, and using European technology. But their contribution could go much further. They hope to work with the EU institutions towards creating an enabling policy environment for their sectors to collectively reach climate change mitigation equivalent to 30% of EU annual CO2 emissions. In 2019, this figure stood at 20%.
The coalition’s ambition will require consolidating the EU’s global leadership as a provider of sustainable and competitive alternative solutions for today, and innovative opportunities for tomorrow. Europe’s wood and fibre-based value chains are widely considered a laboratory for the future circular bioeconomy.
In order to be climate neutral by 2050, the EU needs to work with the coalition to accelerate the uptake of bio-products, encourage investments in green technologies for production processes and supply chains, and support a shift towards sustainable consumption while putting in place policies to boost the competitiveness of sustainable manufacturing industries.
The competitiveness of the overall European industry has been impacted by the energy crunch and issues related to the supply of strategic raw materials. Wood-based products, fibre-based paper and board products and packaging, and renewable energy solutions offer resilience and ensure European strategic autonomy and competitiveness via the sustainable management of sources of valuable raw materials, and secondary raw materials and related technology.
Download the paper Circular Choices for a competitive EU Bioeconomy here.
As EPF Chairman Martin Brettenthaler stresses: ‘EPF is proud to be part of this coalition using nature-based products to help realise Europe’s goal of net-zero climate neutrality. Wood-based panels are integral to this journey using sustainable materials for furniture, construction, packaging and in multiple everyday applications. As a European global champion in this field, we urge policy makers to work with us to place industry, especially the circular bioeconomy, at the heart of this social, economic and environmental transition’.
For further information, please contact EPF Administration and Communications Officer:
Mrs Isabelle Henin
+32 2 556 25 89
EPF held its Technical and Environmental Working Group meetings this week.
On 8 February, we were very pleased to welcome two guests, Mr Christian Holzleitner (HoU – Directorate-General for Climate Action) and Mr Borut Cink (Community Manager and Policy Officer at the Joint Research Centre) to our Environmental Working Group meeting.
Mr Christian Holzleitner delivered a presentation on the Proposal for a Regulation on an EU certification for carbon removals.
In his intervention, he stressed that our main objective is to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. Mr Holzleitner shed light on several options to reach this net zero aim by taking more CO2 out of the atmosphere, including geological storage, carbon farming and carbon storage in long-lasting products, especially in the construction sector via the use of wood-based materials. Finding the right mix between these solutions is crucial, he added.
EPF was delighted to be invited by Mr Holzleitner to attend a workshop together with the wood-working industry to further develop discussions and actions, especially on carbon removals.
Mr Borut Cink briefed our members with the latest news related to the New European Bauhaus – its progress report, NEB Compass and other opportunities. He provided us with a presentation of the current and upcoming flagship initiatives such as:
Workshops for further collaboration and training plans releated to NEB Academy are to be held at the University of Primorska (Slovenia) where EPF will be invited as an active part of the W4B Alliance. EPF and W4B aim to contribute especially to how biobased materials can help to decarbonise the built environment.
EPF is delighted to announce that its Annual General Meeting will be held from 21 June to 23 June 2023 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and will be hosted by ANFTA. The AGM will follow the traditional schedule with a Managing Board meeting on 21 June, member meetings on 22 June including the General Assembly followed by the Gala Dinner, and an Open Part conference on Friday 23 June. Attendance is by invitation only.
We look forward to seeing many of you in Spain for this important gathering of the European wood-based panels industry.
