New EU rules push the sector to take action |
|
|
|
|
 |
| 62 sec |
Companies and forest owners prepare for stricter sustainability requirements during the PEFC annual meeting
During the PEFC Netherlands annual meeting on October 7 in Driebergen, the new European sustainability legislation took center stage. Over a hundred representatives from companies, forest owners, and policymakers gathered to gain clarity about the implications of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), among others.
| PEFC annual meeting 2025 (image via: PEFC Netherlands) |
The meeting, themed 'Navigating new EU laws', showed that the regulations will impact the entire chain — from forest management to construction and packaging. Many organizations are searching for ways to meet the requirements without overhauling their operations.
New rules, greater responsibility
Moderator Siem Haffmans (Partners for Innovation) emphasized that the PPWR creates one European framework for packaging. 'That means clear rules, but also greater responsibility,' he said.
Isaac Lievevrouw from PEFC International explained how European legislation is developed and why it is important for the sector to be part of the conversation. Nicolas Vancayzeele from Foresco then translated the Brussels plans into practice, sharing examples from the wood-processing industry.
 | | PEFC annual meeting 2025 (image via: PEFC Netherlands) |
|
|
|
|
The regulations will impact the entire chain — from forest management to construction and packaging.
| |
|
Certification as a guide
Debora Flier, PEFC group manager at the Union of Forest Groups, showed how forest owners are preparing for the new requirements. 'The strength of certification is that it's not just a label, but a process of continuous improvement,' she said.
Collaboration is key
According to PEFC Netherlands, sharing knowledge and working together across the value chain are crucial to meeting the new obligations. The afternoon concluded with a networking reception where participants agreed on joint steps related to certification, reporting, and compliance.
PEFC is the world's largest certification organization for sustainable forest management. More than 300 million hectares of forest are now PEFC certified.
|
|
'That means clear rules, but also greater responsibility.'
| |
|
 | | PEFC annual meeting 2025 (image via: PEFC Netherlands) |
|
|
This article was originally published on October 15, 2025, on the website](https://www.stad-en-groen.nl/article/51670/nieuwe-eu-regels-dwingen-sector-tot-actie]website) of Stad + Groen.
| LOG IN
with your email address to respond.
|
|
|
| There are no comments yet. |
Tip the editors
|
