“Wood: The Key to a Socio-Economic Sustainable Development” conference
Wood is the Kyoto Material!

Brussels, 25 November 2004 - On 22nd November 2004 an information-exchange conference for EU policy makers was held at the CEI-Bois offices in Brussels. The conference, ‘Wood: The Key To A Socio-Economic Sustainable Development’, was the first action of the Roadmap 2010 “Wood in Sustainable Development” process and gathered speakers from the European Parliament, the European Commission, the trade unions, industry and academia.

The main topic of the conference was the sustainable use of wood and wood products. In his keynote speech, Mr Paul Rübig, Member of the European Parliament, stressed the economic and environmental benefits of wood products, and gave his full support to the CEI-Bois Roadmap 2010 process. He also encouraged the woodworking industry to allocate more resources to research and to inform the European Commission on the research needs of the industry in view of the 7th Research Framework Programme. He underlined the importance of employment in rural areas and of the small and medium-sized enterprises for the EU policy makers. Mr Rübig furthermore expressed his support to renewable energy sources policies, in order to avoid an energy shortage in the future, where biomass energy could certainly play a role. Finally, he acknowledged the contribution of wood and wood products to climate change mitigation and recommended in this respect the enhanced use of wood in public works.

Mr Ladislaus Döry, Chairman of the European Panel Federation stressed the European woodworking industry’s commitment and contribution to sustainable development. The woodworking industry is an important economic sector with a production value of about €165 billion in the enlarged Europe. It plays a major role in rural development and employs more than 2.6 million people in EU25. Furthermore, wood and wood products have outstanding environmental credentials, based on man’s only naturally renewable raw material: wood extracted from sustainably managed forests.

Professor Arno Frühwald, Hamburg University, presented opportunities for the enhanced use of wood in building and interior applications. Wood is the traditional building material and energy source, and also a sustainable building material. Although the share of wood-frame construction in single-family housing is only 10% in Europe, compared to 90% in the United States, studies have shown that wood is a competitive material price wise, and more sustainable than competing materials. Prof. Frühwald also presented scientific data on the potential for sustainable roundwood removals to 2020 and the socio-economic added value of the forest-based industries in the EU. Finally, he stated: “Wood is the Kyoto material, because it stores carbon over several hundred years, it needs very little energy for manufacture and it is a zero fossil energy material”.

Mr Frans Vollenbroek, DG Environment of the European Commission, presented the “Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources”. The overall aim is to develop measures that allow resources to be used in a sustainable way without a negative impact to the environment, while achieving the objectives of the Lisbon strategy. He pleaded for a more coherent application of the different policies developed by various services of the European Commission. He added that economic growth should be reached while reducing environmental impacts, but not necessarily reducing material consumption. The Strategy is expected to be implemented in June 2005.

Mr Stefaan Vanthourenhout, European Federation of Building and Woodworkers, confirmed once again the full support of the trade unions to the Roadmap 2010 process. He stressed the importance of the sector often providing employment in remote or less industrialized areas, where sometimes a woodworking plant is the only source of income for the population.

Mr Mike Botting, Editor of Wood-based Panels International Magazine led the panel discussion with the speakers. The conclusion was that the woodworking industry has a good story to tell! However, the sector should make better use of its credentials when discussing with policy makers.

Mr Hans-Michael Offner, Chairman of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry, concluded the conference underlining the contribution of the woodworking industry to sustainable development in Europe. He added that the strategic process “Wood in sustainable development” is completing the Roadmap 2010 by providing the industry with the right arguments and policy instruments to effectively promote the use of wood and wood products in Europe and overseas. He appealed to all participants in the meeting to strongly support the sector’s strategic goals and to be open for a continued dialogue and co-operation. Finally, he informed that CEI-Bois has prepared a “Memorandum to the European Institutions” that will be launched within short. This document contains the main policy areas impacting the woodworking industries for the moment and presents CEI-Bois’ views and expectations.
Finally, CEI-Bois presented the informative brochure “European Wood Factsheets”, a project developed in cooperation with the European Wood Councils. These 5 factsheets outline the advantages of wood as a material and the possibilities to combat climate change by using more wood.


Brussels, 25 November 2004