Events

The Wood Policy and Innovation Conference: ‘Europe’s Wood Sector as a Driver for the Green and Digital Transition of the Built Environment’ took place on 7 November in Brussels.

What happened during this full-day event (9:00 – 17:00 CET)?

• Keynotes and panels with leading companies, policymakers and architects
• Networking with over 150 participants, including policymakers, MEPs, European Commission experts, and advocacy groups
• Multidimensional sessions, with speakers including EPF Vice-Chair Veronique Hoflack (Unilin Panels)
• Afternoon session B: “Reuse, Reclaim, Recycle. Circularity approaches to reduce and valorise waste wood” co-hosted by EPF Technical Director Kris Wijnendaele on behalf of Horizon project EcoReFibre
• The programme is available here

Successful Conclusion of the 13th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium 2024

Mark Your Calendar for the Next Symposium on 14-16 October 2026

Brussels, 30 October 2024

The 13^th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium, held from 9-11 October 2024 in Hamburg, successfully gathered experts, researchers, and industry leaders from across the globe. The biennial event provided a platform for insightful presentations and discussions, with a high-level quality programme and speakers, as well as for networking opportunities within the wood-based panel industry.

The full Report on the 13th EWBPS 2024 is available here.

This major networking event in the WBP industry, bringing together experts, researchers, and professionals to discuss the latest developments in the field took place on 9-11 October. Insightful presentations, networking opportunities and access to cutting-edge research that will shape the future of the industry are to be expected.

The last edition in 2022 was a great success: 320 delegates from 28 countries enjoyed two days of market updates, technical presentations and networking. The event covered many topics on the market and technical levels. A particular highlight was the opening session that featured the Chairman of EPF, the President of EFIC, and the Director General of Cepi, the leaders of the wood-based panels, furniture and paper industries.

Organised in co-operation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI) and with the support of iVTH and Hywax, the 13^th European Wood-based Panel Symposium took place at the Grand Elysée Hotel in Hamburg, Germany

The full programme is available here.

In case of questions, please kindly contact EWBPS@wki.fraunhofer.de.

The Webinar was hosted by EPF and SPPDwP (the Polish national association) member, Paged, co-organised with the EPF Plywood Product Group and partners including World Forest ID and the legal firm Van Bael & Bellis. More than 400 registrations were received and 366 online participants from more than 30 countries attended the Webinar.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In response to the increasing challenges posed by illegal plywood imports from Russia and Belarus, this webinar aimed at addressing the critical need for responsible sourcing and compliance within the European wood industry. The discussions focused on the legal ramifications of sourcing from sanctioned regions and present strategies to strengthen trade compliance and sustainability efforts across Europe.

This webinar’s aims were mainly twofold:

1. Sharing knowledge with plywood company customers, including distributors from France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK, about the impact of illegal Russian and Belarussian plywood imports on the European industry, economy, sustainability, and ethics.
2. Establishing a first step to further local country-wise webinars organised in local languages by local Timber/Plywood/Wood Processing Associations

AGENDA OVERVIEW

11:00 – 11:10 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker: Jarosław Michniuk, EPF Board Member, CEO of Paged Morąg and Paged Meble

11:10 – 11:30 AM | Current State of Illegal Plywood Imports in Europe and its Impacts

Speaker: Mārtiņš Lācis, EPF Executive Board Member and Chair of Plywood Product Group and Executive Board Member and Head of Marketing, Sales and Logistics in AS Latvijas Finieris

 11:30 – 11:50 AM | Legal Risks of Non-Compliance with EU Sanctions

Speaker: Yuriy Rudyuk, Partner, Van Bael & Bellis

 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM | Innovative Solutions for the Verification of Timber Origin

Speaker: Victor Deklerck, Director of Science, World Forest ID

12:10 – 13:00 PM | Q&A and Closing Remarks

Moderated by: Magdalena Kicińska, Head of Communication, Paged Morąg

PRESS RELEASE is available here. 

EPF was thrilled to hold its Annual General meeting in Riga this year.

On 19-21 June, we welcomed delegates from 100 companies and high-level guests from across Europe and beyond.

The AGM, hosted by Latvijas Finieris followed its traditional schedule:

🔷 19 June: Managing Board meeting
🔷 20 June: Member meetings and General Assembly, followed by a Gala Dinner
🔷 21 June: Open Part conference and networking event

The programme of the Open Part included:

• A keynote speech by Mrs Katharina Knapton-Vierlich, Head of Unit H1, DG GROW, European Commission
• Presentation of EPF 2023 Economic Results and 2024 Advocacy Updates
• Topical speeches on Sustainable Forest Management, Polish Furniture Industry, Development of bio (wood) based binders, Materials from renewable resources

Presentation of the Speakers of the Open Part

Presentation of the Sponsors

EPF Open Part Presentation 

News on our hosts’ website, 6 June: Announcement of the EPF AGM

EPF Press Release, 25 June: EPF reports 2023 results in a Baltic State homeland of plywood, unanimously endorses the nomination of Ms Veronique Hoflack as new Vice-Chair and adds a new Board member

New European Bauhaus (NEB) was the focus of the Open Part of EPF AGM, 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 was 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 was centred on two interactive sessions:

Our full report is available here. We wish you excellent reading.

23 June marked the Open Part of the EPF Annual General Meeting – a momentum to present key results and 5 advocacy highlights.

The slides of the presentation delivered by EPF Managing Director Mr Clive Pinnington are available here.

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]