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DRAFT (text only) (09.02.12)

Introduction

Five years ago, the European forest-based sector set out a bold vision for its future development up to 2030. With the support of the European Commission, the industry and its major stakeholders created the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP), which developed a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) to provide a roadmap for achieving this vision. More than 100 European sector-relevant research projects, with a total funding of around € 500 million, were established between 2005 and 2010.

The sector has now revised its Vision 2030. The vision supports the EU2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and identifies four strategic objectives addressing the grand societal challenges and together leading towards the development of a bio-based society: responsible use of forest resources, fulfilling consumer needs, creating industrial leadership and providing sustainable forest bioenergy.

The vision can be summarised in four statements:

• The forest-based sector is a key actor and enabler of the bio-based society
• It has doubled the real added value of its products and services since 2005
• Consumer needs and the smart and sustainable use of forest resources are the cornerstones of continued development
• The sector is bustling with new entrepreneurial activities that create employment and enriches  the rural economy

The vision targets for 2030 form the backbone of this new vision document. They are very ambitious, clearly defined and measurable objectives which can only be achieved by a collaborative European effort to create a strong profitable industrial sector. This needs both to attract investors and provide society with solutions for environmental challenges, particularly related to water, air and soil pollution and climate change.

The Vision 2030 and complementary Strategic Research Agenda 2020 will also attract young people to a career in the forest-based sector and be a stepping stone on the path to achieving the European Commission’s ambitious target of 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2050 (which the CEPI Roadmap 2050 - towards a low-carbon bio-economy address).

 

Logos and signatures of CEI-Bois, CEPI, CEPF, EUSTAFOR and FTP HLG Chairman

 

Background – the challenge

The future will bring both challenges and opportunities. Global challenges include the demands a growing population makes on global ecosystems, whose resilience is being tested by water, air and soil pollution. Based on the present rate of utilisation, natural resources will fall increasingly short of demand. But resources are used very inequitably, and there are still many people, particularly in developing countries, who hope to receive their fair share of the world’s limited resources. Thus, substantial improvements in resource efficiency are essential to guarantee a secure and sustainable future for everyone while simultaneously tackling climate change, driven by the use of fossil resources.

The European forest-based sector is directly affected by climate change, competition for wood resources, changing consumer demands, increasing competition and the growing complexity of manufacturing processes. Traditional forest-based industries have used non-food renewable natural resources in a sustainable and responsible way and the growing and evolving sector now has great potential as an enabler for the future sustainable European bioeconomy. The EU and the European forest-based sector can together contribute to achievement of the Vision 2030 by implementing the Strategic Research Agenda.  

The development of a bio-based economy will result in a growing importance of biomass resources, whilst the role of fossil resources is reduced. A biobased society will emerge that will embrace sustainability, a clean environment and low carbon solutions. The bio-based society of 2030 will grow and develop from the seeds of the current bioeconomy. Addressing the challenges and opportunities and developing dedicated products, processes and solutions will require a paradigm shift from resource-based to knowledge-based industries and a ‘new forest-based sector’ with the following characteristics:

-        A key component of a move away from an economy largely dependent on non-renewable resources, including fossil-based energy production, to a bioeconomy based on renewable raw materials

-        Better resource efficiency, meaning less raw material and energy is needed to achieve the same or better outcome

-        Green energy production from renewable resources that cannot be used as raw material for products

-        New and improved bio-based products that will meet consumer needs and create new markets

-        Fitting with the ever increasing environmental awareness of consumers

 

The forest-based sector today

The forest-based sector in Europe provides society with a wide variety of products and services, ranging from paper, packaging, tissue paper, furniture and construction materials  made from solid wood and wood-based panels to textile fibres, biofuels, bio-energy and speciality chemicals. Today it contributes some 8% of the EU’s total manufacturing added value, and sustainably manages forests covering 35% of the EU’s landmass. It also provides income for about 16 million forest owners and supports 3-4 million industrial jobs in the areas of transport, machinery, construction, instrumentation, ICT, chemicals and energy. The forest sector is Europe’s biggest producer and user of bio-based energy.

 The most significant sub-sector of forest-based industry in Europe is the woodworking industry which in 2009 had a turnover of over €180 billion and 2.4 million employees in 365,000 small and medium-sized companies. The woodworking sector includes sawmilling (15%), wood construction products (37%) and furniture manufacture (48%). The second largest sub-sector is the pulp and paper industry, with a total turnover of €81 billion in 2010, 224,000 employees and some 700 enterprises. The forest-based sector operates mainly in rural areas and is a vital component of the rural economy.

 

 

Contrary to the commonly held belief that using wood for economic exploitation causes the destruction of forests, sustainable management of forests in fact contributes to forest preservation Europe is the only world region to have seen a net increase in forest area over the past 20 years, having gained 16.9 million hectares of forest land since 1990 The volume of timber in the EU forests is at its highest level since records began. The net annual increment in 2010 was 620 million cubic metres from which about 60% is harvested (Source: FAO State of Europe’s Forests 2011)

 

 Healthy and resilient forests are a prerequisite for a sustainable supply of raw materials to the forest- based sector (FBS) as well as for other goods and services provided for society by forest ecosystems ( including carbon sequestration, clean water, erosion protection, biodiversity, aesthetic landscapes and recreation). The European FBS has already practised sustainable forest management (SFM) for many centuries, and the concept continues to evolve and develop.

The forest-based sector incorporates the three pillars of sustainable development: economic efficiency, social acceptance and benefits, and environmental performance. Mindful of the political, economic, environmental and social challenges which lie ahead, the sector will continue to use its diverse skills and considerable creativity to meet the needs of consumers and European society as a whole.

 

Green energy and fuels from the forest-based sector As the world’s leading provider of renewable energy solutions, including biofuels, the European pulp and paper industries are well-placed to be the main provider of biofuels from non-food feedstock also in the future.

Wood is our most important renewable raw material for construction and furniture, because:

• Wood and wood products sequester carbon and reduce the CO₂ in the atmosphere, and so help to mitigate climate change
• Wood products are made in an established, low-energy production system, with minimal emissions compared with other construction materials
• Waste wood from sawmills is transformed into wood-based panels
• Wood products can be re-used and recycled, and at the end of their useful life they can be used as a source of bio-energy

The paper industry is one of the major recyclers in Europe; 90 % of newspapers and corrugated boxes are made from recycled fibres.

In the areas of biorefinery and nanotechnology the industry has already made substantial progress. Lignin remains an under-utilised material whose potential must be explored thoroughly in light of the latest technology.

 

Nanocellulose   Is nature’s own reinforcement steel Is an incredible liquid absorbent In combination with certain biomaterials, nanocellulose exhibits other properties and can act as an impermeable water barrier   Lignin    Is the second most abundant organic molecule in the world after cellulose Is the most abundant source of aromatic molecules  that could be converted to new high value products

      

Sustainable forestry also prevents floods, reduces soil erosion and improves air quality. Last but not least, forests are the most species-rich of all terrestrial ecosystems. Managed with care and knowledge, the forests of Europe offer renewable raw materials as well as being a source of great biodiversity and recreational value for citizens. In fact, if all the forests in the world were managed as sustainably as in Europe, they would be able to absorb the surplus CO₂ emissions of our entire civilisation.

Forest-based Sector Vision 2030

 

• The forest-based sector is a key actor and enabler of the bio-based society
• It has doubled the real added value of its products and services since 2005
• Consumer needs, and the smart and sustainable use of forest resources, are the cornerstones of development
• The sector is bustling with  new entrepreneurial activities that create employment and enriches  the rural economy

 

Using innovation as a basis to develop the ‘new forest-based sector’ includes playing a key role in providing society with renewable energy (heat, power and transport fuels), more sustainable housing and furnishings, replacing petroleum-based plastics in packaging and other applications, clean water technologies, future-oriented communication media, novel medicines and healthy food ingredients as well as alternative European raw materials for production of clothing, to compete with current synthetic fibres and cotton.

The forest-based sector will also continue to provide society with a sustainably managed forest, resilient to climate change. Only legally sourced wood will be used, whether imported or grown in the EU. The sector will significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by providing low carbon alternatives to energy-intensive materials.

Achieving this vision would help the EU in tackling several of the grand societal challenges, and greatly improve the competiveness of the European forest-based sector. This will require excellence in forest and biomass management, significant investment in research and development, and a strong, innovation-driven industry leadership. The forest-based sector is ready to take the lead!

Vision Targets 2030 

The vision targets are grouped under four Strategic Objectives essential for building the new forest-based sector in Europe by 2030. The Strategic Objectives and the specific vision targets are:

Responsible use of forest resources

• A resilient and diverse European forest is sustainably managed by a variety of owners and owner cooperatives who, assisted by new multi-purpose management systems, provide all the functions of the forest including raw material production, biodiversity and recreation
• In many regions, specific growth is increasing and management is optimised for additional harvesting possibilities. In other regions, especially in the Mediterranean area, the impacts of climate change are predicted to be very severe, and creating resilient, stress-tolerant forest is particularly important. In some landscapes the main aim is nature conservation or management for eco-system services. Taking account of the full range of demand and production constraints, harvesting possibilities in Europe has increased by 30%, enabling forest owners to manage their forests more efficiently and sustainably
• Cascade use of renewable material is established throughout the entire value chain. Recovery, reuse and recycling of forest-based products accounts for 70% of all recyclable material. When recycling opportunities have been exhausted, the remaining material is used for energy production

Fulfilling consumer needs

• In 2030, the value added by the wood working industries will have doubled and for the pulp and paper industries it is well on its way to reach the targets set by the CEPI 2050 Roadmap. Growth will come from new products and services, as well as more wide-spread use of energy-saving modular housing structures and functional furniture. Novel, smart packaging solutions and innovative hygiene products for increased efficiency and safety (e.g. anti-counterfeit measures, smart food packaging etc.) will evolve.
• Wood-based construction in Europe has tripled its market share from the 2010 level, reaching a turnover of €200 billion
• Added value from new markets for non-wood forest goods (mushrooms, berries, clean water) and services (recreation, tourism, climate change mitigation) has increased ten-fold

 

Creating industrial leadership

• Activities to foster resource efficiency have resulted in a significant reduction in specific energy consumption, specific raw material input and specific water use in the pulp and paper industry
• The forest-based sector is taking advantage of its long experience in biorefining to help the concept achieve its full potential
• New business concepts based on forest ecosystem services have been developed on 30% of the land by forest owner cooperatives, in collaboration with sectors including agriculture, water, and tourism

 

Providing sustainable forest bio-energy

Thanks to new and innovative production technologies, reduced overall energy consumption, increased recycling of wood and paper products, and reuse and refining of side-streams, the sector will:

• continue to be the leading provider of green energy
• be the biggest producer of green electricity and biofuels in Europe, with a production capacity of 10 Mtoe per annum (equivalent to 50 Mm³ forest and mill residues) in 2030

 

Achieving the Vision Targets – the Strategic Research Agenda

The Vision 2030 will be achieved by implementing the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2020. Strategic cross-sector alliances with other industries, with investors and public institutions will play a vital role in the process. Open innovation concepts and methods that reach beyond the sector’s usual technology providers, especially in the area of key enabling technologies (such as information and communication technologies, electronics, nanotechnology, sensor technologies and monitoring systems, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing systems, and industrial biotechnology) must be established to maintain the sector’s competitive edge and  accelerate the development towards a bio-based society.