WEI News October 2021

Creosote derogation

On 20 October the EU Commission published its implementing decision on postponing the expiry date of approval of creosote for use in biocidal products of product-type 8.

On 16 September 2019, the former evaluating competent authority of the United Kingdom submitted a recommendation on the renewal to the European Chemicals Agency (‘the Agency’). The competent authority of Poland has taken over the role of evaluating competent authority regarding the application on 30 January 2020.

Creosote, classified as carcinogen category 1B and being a persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic substance and a very persistent and very bio-accumulative substance, meets the exclusion criteria set out in Article 5(1), points (a) and (e) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.

The EU Commission now states that the examination to decide whether at least one of the conditions of Article 5(2), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is fulfilled, and whether the approval of creosote may therefore be renewed, has already started, it will not be possible to complete this examination before the current expiry of approval.

Consequently the approval of creosote for use in biocidal products of product-type 8 is likely to expire before a decision has been taken on its renewal. The Commission therefore decided that it is appropriate to further postpone the expiry date of approval of creosote for a period of time sufficient to enable the examination of the application.

The expiry date of approval of creosote for use in biocidal products of product-type 8 is postponed to 31 October 2022.

The full text can be foudn on: EUR-Lex – 32021D1839 – EN – EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

EU Commision 2022 Work programme

On 19 October the European Commission adopted its 2022 Work Programme together with its supporting annexes (full list of the 42 new policy initiatives, within 32 policy objectives, under the six headline ambitions) and dedicated factsheet.

The program sets out the next steps in its agenda towards a post-COVID-19 Europe that is greener, fairer, more digital, and more resilient.

This 2022 Work Programme contains 42 new policy initiatives across all six headline ambitions of President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines, building on her 2021 State of the Union speech (A European Green Deal, A Europe fit for the digital age, An economy that works for people, A stronger Europe in the world, Promoting our European way of life & A new push for European democracy).
It also reflects the lessons learnt from the crisis caused by the pandemic, while paying particular attention to the young generation with the proposed European Year of Youth 2022.

Please find below some highlights from the published 2022 Work program that are relevant for the woodworking industry.

Relevant for the woodworking industry is that the Commission will continue its work on making Europe the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050. On top of its pioneering ‘Fit for 55 package’ presented in 2021 as part of the European Green Deal, the Commission will also:

  • propose a regulatory framework for certification of carbon removals
  • take further steps towards zero-emission mobility (reviewing the CO2 emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles)
  • follow up on the zero-pollution action plan to improve water and air quality;
  • set new rules on sustainable use of pesticides.
  • advance the circular economy by strengthening the right to repair products instead of replacing them.
  • in addition to the already proposed Social Climate Fund, the EC will mobilise resources to double the external funding for biodiversity.
  • Green bonds will play an increasingly important role
  • The EC also expresses commitment to place sustainable finance at the forefront of the EU’s recovery effort.

CEI-Bois launches its International Wood Manifesto

The International Wood Manifesto making the case to politicians for a much greater use of wood in both construction and renovation was launched in London on Thursday 28th October on the eve of the COP in Glasgow.
The manifesto, aimed at helping preventing climate breakdown, is a collaboration between the European wood industries and their colleagues in Canada, the USA, New Zealand and Australia.

Overview:

The construction and built environment sector is responsible for approximately 40% of global energy related CO2 emissions. A significant percentage of which comes from the extraction, processing and energy-intensive manufacturing of building products.

To achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, construction must rapidly decarbonise whilst still meeting the needs of a growing urban population, the increasing demand for new buildings and the urgent requirement to renovate existing buildings.

Wood is the only sustainable structural material that grows worldwide which can enable a substantial decarbonisation of the built environment based on existing business models and proven technology; providing vast carbon sinks in our rural areas and carbon stores in our cities.

Wood is a naturally renewable material which:

  1. Sequesters carbon in forests as trees grow
  2. Stores carbon in harvested wood products
  3. Substitutes for carbon intensive materials such as steel, concrete and plastics
  4. Drives Sustainable forest management leading to greater growth
  5. Contributes to a Circular economy as wood products can be reused, recycled and recovered for low-carbon energy at end-of-life

In a joint CEI-Bois/EOS press release prior to the Manifesto publication Sampsa Auvinen, Chaiman of CEI-Bois said “Wood is the only sustainable structural material that grows worldwide which can enable a substantial decarbonisation of the built environment based on existing business models and proven technology; providing vast carbon sinks in our rural areas and carbon stores in our cities”.

The EOS President, Herbet Joebstl added further “A significant amount of LCA studies had concluded that wood is a climate-friendly alternative compared to other building materials because not only its production is less carbon-intensive, but it also locks up carbon for a long time. Building with wood is one part of a sustainable forest sector growth strategy that can help the building sector reduce its carbon footprint”.

Australian Forest Products Association CEO, Ross Hampton added. “The UN’s own science has found that timber sourced from sustainably managed forests makes the greatest impact, mitigating carbon.”

Global Timber Manifesto available HERE

Joint CEI-Bois/EOS Press Release is available HERE

WEI AGENDA

  • 23-24 March 2022 – WEI Spring meeting (Brussels)
  • 1-3 September 2022 – WEI Annual meeting (Milan, Italy)
Scroll to Top