Enhancing the competitiveness of the EU wood-processing industries and related value chains

Advisory Committee on Forestry and Forestry-based Industries 27th April 2012 Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit

European sustainable forests provide most of the sectors raw materials

Around 90% of Europes wood requirements from sustainably managed EU forests Around 75% of EU forests are supplying wood and nonwood goods and services, e.g. resin, foods and recreation European forest resource has been increasing (over past 6 decades) in terms of its standing wood volume per unit area The overall demand for sustainably accessible wood in the EU may exceed supply
o Increasing use of wood biomass for energy production o Long-term increases in wood requirements by the woodprocessing industries

27th April 2012

Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit

The EU wood-processing industries value chains

Representing a wide range of sectors and sub-sectors, deriving added value from wood-based (ligno-cellulose) renewable resources The solid wood value chain: the production of sawn wood, furniture, cork and wood-based panels, other wooden products, etc. The cellulose fibre value chain: the manufacturing of pulp, paper and carton/paperboard, converting, printing and paper media publishing, etc. The refined ligno-cellulose value chain: the supply of input materials for textile and composite products, bio-refineries, manufacturing of tall oil, bio-fuels and chemical products, etc.
27th April 2012 Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit 3

Sectors/sub-sectors
Wood and paper-based industries constitute an important source of employment and of wealth creation in Europe
EU 27, 2009 (Eurostat) Woodworking Furniture Pulp, paper and paperboard Printing and graphic Publishing
27th April 2012

Companies 170,000 125,000 2,000 132,000 90,000

Annual turnover () Employment 100 billion 100 billion 80 billion 90 billion 1 million 1 million 1,8 million 900,000 960,000
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Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit

Issues (non-exhaustive list)

Common issues
o Access to finance, access to raw materials (at market prices), o Increased costs of inputs (e.g. electricity, chemicals, raw materials virgin and recycled fibre), o Human resources and skills, o Growing global competition and overcapacity, o Certification and traceability, EU Timber Regulation,

27th April 2012

Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit

Issues (non-exhaustive list)

Specific issues

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o Copyright and changing business models in the publishing sector, o Demanding quality standards and labelling in the printing graphic industry, o Biomass and carbon price in the pulp and paper manufacturing sector, o Technical labelling in the furniture sector, o

27th April 2012

Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit

Questions for the Advisory Committee

Are there other issues equally (or more) important and which ones? How are the above (and the other) issues being addressed? How effective are the solutions being implemented? What further action would be required, at what level (EU, MS, and/or sector)?
27th April 2012 Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit 7

27th April 2012

Julio Cardoso DG ENTR.F.4 Unit