Wooden packaging

One of the objectives of the European Green Deal is to encourage and promote circularity and recyclability, with a particular focus on packaging. These are two themes that are a perfect match with wooden packing materials. For example, not only is the latter produced from a natural renewable raw material – obviously 'wood' – but the reuse and repair of pallets greatly extends their lifespan. This takes place in open or closed pools or specific customer-oriented systems. In addition, 'wood gives oxygen': the carbon from the CO₂ remains bound in the wood. Wood remains available as a raw material for subsequent reprocessing into e.g. wood-based panels.

The availability of wood raw material presented some additional challenges for wood packaging and pallet manufacturers in 2022. After the high demand for timber during the coronavirus crisis, with correspondingly higher prices, supply was further restricted in 2022 by the import and export restrictions from Belarus and Russia owing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The availability of nails also came under high pressure.

The demand for pallets and wooden packaging did remain high during this period: goods simply need to be transported. Wooden pallets and packaging remain an indispensable link in the global logistics chain.

Climate change, circularity and sustainability were also top topics at the Congress of the industry's European organisation, FEFPEB, in late September 2022 in Florence. Several speakers, including the CEO of EPAL International, highlighted the special place of wood, wooden packaging materials and pallets at this, as well as aspects such as certification of sustainable forest management, due diligence, recycling and circular economy.