Important criteria for increasing the effectiveness of the implementation of a European bioeconomy strategy

Sustainable forest management ensures that forests make diverse ecological, social and economic contributions in the long term. This secures the supply of raw materials in the long term. European forests must continue to be utilised sustainably in the future and supply the environmentally friendly building material wood. Building with wood increases the climate protection potential of the construction industry. Together, forests and timber construction can significantly increase the national climate protection performance as carbon reservoirs. Resource-efficient timber utilisation must be geared towards the long-term needs of the domestic timber industry as well as the social requirements of nature conservation. Regulatory requirements for sustainable forestry must be proportionate and form a recognised basis.

• Resource-efficient use of wood as a raw material

Even if forest stands are repeatedly damaged by environmental influences or insect infestation, the affected wood is not an inferior raw material, but has almost identical properties to conventional construction timber. The so-called calamity wood retains its load-bearing capacity and its important function as a CO2 sink, regardless of external damage.

From an ecological and climate policy perspective, the material utilisation of wood should always be preferred to thermal utilisation. In terms of future resource development, it is also important to focus on sustainable reforestation and resource-efficient construction. To this end, the framework conditions for cascade utilisation must be further improved in order to increase CO2 storage effects.

• Promotion of local supply networks

A direct and regional supply of raw materials is of great importance for an efficient contribution to climate protection. A stringent value chain from the forest via the sawmills to the wood-processing companies with short supply chains is highly low-emission and ecological. This achieves the best possible climate protection effect, as long transport routes and thus CO2 emissions are avoided. It also strengthens the small and medium-sized economic structures in the European regions. This includes the establishment and expansion of efficient regional value chains. In this way, stable market developments and reliable availability along the forestry and timber value chain can be achieved. Unregulated timber exports on the global trade market, which weaken domestic, regional business structures and have a hugely negative impact on national carbon footprints, must be scrutinised in public discourse and regulated if necessary.

• Consistent implementation of bioeconomic targets

The construction sector is responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Global warming must be kept below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, it is necessary to consistently include and price the supply routes and manufacturing processes of building materials in terms of their carbon footprint in the assessment under public law. ‘Grey energy’ must no longer be disregarded in the assessment of buildings and building materials. Within the framework of the Construction Products Regulation, the ‘sustainable use of natural resources’ must be mandated and systematically implemented for all EU member states as an essential basic requirement for construction works BWR 7.

The amendment should also be examined below:

• Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings (DIRECTIVE (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings, EPBD)
• Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency (Energy Efficiency Directive, EED)

Adaptation of requirements for the structural characteristics of buildings and specifications in the building sector to achieve the CO2 reduction targets by 2030: Introduction of ‘zero-emission buildings’ in new buildings by 2030 based on accounting rules for sustainable construction (EN 15804/ EN 15978)

• Promotion and expansion of competences

The handling and use of carbon-storing biogenic materials, particularly in the construction industry, must be increased by strengthening and expanding the competences of all European specialist and transport circles concerned. European training formats that have already been developed in practice, such as the EQF Timber (https://www.timber-construction.eu/berufsbildung/eqf-timber), must be strengthened and made more widely applicable. This is the only way to meet the enormous challenges of climate-efficient construction, particularly in existing buildings, by ensuring comparable quality.

• Proportionate and practicable bureaucratic framework

It is essential for the success of the transformation of the construction industry within the framework of the ‘Green Deal’ that the political target definitions and implementation regulations are recognised by the specialist and transport circles concerned. When guidelines are developed, it is highly recommended that the feasibility of such regulatory structures be checked and adapted at an early stage. A negative example of this can be seen in the European Deforestation Directive (EUDR). Here, the targets were imposed equally on all countries without sufficient differentiation between the countries of origin and thus also the affected company structures. If nothing changes in this respect, this will lead to considerable obstacles in the European economy from 2026 and possibly also to legal action before the European Court of Justice. 

It is clear that the implementation criteria of a regulatory and bureaucratic nature are decisive for the success of strategic goals in Europe. This will be particularly true if a circular bioeconomy has to be scaled up at all European levels, especially at grassroots company level. Practicality and proportionality are the order of the day.

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