The German Association of Wood Packaging, Pallets and Export Packaging (HPE) has sent a letter to the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer, warning of the massive impact of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The association is calling for an immediate halt to the regulation until a practical implementation is found that harmonises forest protection and operational reality.
HPE Managing Director Marcus Kirschner criticised the regulation for being „exorbitantly impractical“ and for forcing companies to make cost-intensive adjustments without creating any practical added value. The association particularly criticised the lack of a „zero-risk category“ for countries such as Germany, where there is no risk of deforestation. According to HPE, such a categorisation would significantly reduce bureaucracy.
Reference number system criticised
A key point of criticism is the planned obligation to collect and pass on reference numbers. This requirement is hardly feasible for medium-sized companies, as it would require expensive, fully automated data collection and logistically impractical picking by reference number. Existing systems such as the internationally established ISPM15 number would be ignored.
Kirschner warned that the additional administrative obligations would not only lead to additional costs, but would also exacerbate the shortage of skilled labour, as companies would have to hire new administrative staff. Instead of creating duplicate structures, the HPE is calling for the ISPM15 numbers to be integrated into the EUDR as a recognised traceability system.
Wooden packaging as a contribution to climate protection
Wooden packaging can be repaired, reused several times and recycled or utilised for energy at the end of its useful life. This means that they act as „mobile carbon reservoirs“ and contribute to achieving the European climate targets. According to the association, however, excessive bureaucratic burdens jeopardise precisely these climate-friendly products.
„Instead of creating impractical burdens, politicians should strengthen the wood packaging industry as a partner in achieving the European climate targets,“ Kirschner concluded.
Source: HPE
