European Federation of Wooden pallet and Packaging Manufacturers
NEWSLETTER FEFPEB February 2021 1. ANNOUNCEMENT: FEFPEB SPRING MEETING 29 AND 30 APRIL 2021 – BILBAO (SPAIN) CANCELLED
ONLINE ALTERNATIVE – MEETING POLICY & TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FRIDAY 30 APRIL 2020 – 10.00 – 12.30 hours CET
After careful consideration the FEFPEB executive committee had to decide to replace a physical gathering in Bilbao to a virtual alternative meeting of the FEFPEB Policy & Technical Committee on Friday 30 April 2021. Associated members will be invited as well. The current COVID-19 situation, with lockdown regimes and travel restrictions all over Europe, will prevent our members to come to Spain. Our Spanish partner FAPROMA takes care of any re-arrangements with the hotel in order to postpone the meeting (for the second time) to 28 and 29 April 2022.
Information and updates on the meeting of 30 April 2021 will follow in the months to come, and as always members are kindly invited to deliver any suggestions for agenda items.
An interesting agenda will be prepared, including topics such as:
2. IMPACT COVID-19 ON THE EUROPEAN WOODEN PALLET AND PACKAGING INDUSTRY
A wide variety of lockdown measures all over Europe rule our society and appeals to responsable behaviour by all citizens. It remains hard to predict when life goes back to normal, with the threat of a third wave (new mutations of the Corona virus) looming. Vaccination processes were launched but at different speed per country. Uncertainties on the availability and effectiveness of vaccins add to a situation in which the European countries need to maneuver. So many people, so many different opinions. The impact on the economy may be considered as unfair, as restaurants, bars, theaters, retail shops and hairdressers are closed in many countries, where the industrial activities can continue and keep the economy going. Wooden pallets and packaging are recognized as crucial to vital sectors and this helped us to survive the first wave in 2020.
Gradually our industry adapted to the crisis and recovered. Feedback on Q4 / 2020 shows a balanced volume picture, overall – 5 / 10% compared to 2019 with differences per sub-sector. Light weight packaging volume went down mainly due the closing of open markets during spring/summer 2020, but since Autumn 2020 recovery. Industrial packaging was hit hard when industrial activities were closed in the first half of 2020 and oversees transport came to a standstill. Despite ongoing problems in a.o. the automotive sector and ceramics, IP is picking up but it does not take away that companies have difficulties. Pallet production overall slightly below 2019, steady and healthy volumes with customers having build up stocks. The pallets pools performed well in 2020, with the important FMCG sector.
Of major concern are the ongoing increasing timber prices, not at the speed of Q3 and Q4 / 2020 but it affects our margins. In most parts of Europe no disruptions in availability were noted.
And finally the practical consequences of Brexit, with the UK now a regarded as third country. A higher demand for ISPM 15 pallets on both sides of the North Sea, but the situation is calming down. Not for the administrative burden and tax complications which are surfacing, next to transport bottlenecks.
3. NEWS FROM OUR INDUSTRY PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
A. GLOBAL WOOD PACKAGING FORUM
The Global Wood Packaging Forum (GWPF) congratulates the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) and the Pallet Foundation on its Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for United States Wooden Pallets. This document, certified by UL (formerly Underwriter Laboratories) and produced in conjunction with Forest Products Lab, the research wing of the U.S. Forest Service, is the first of its kind for a product in the distribution packaging space. This declaration speaks to the quantitative impact that wooden pallets have on the environment beyond their reusable, recyclable and biodegradable qualities. Go to: https://globalwoodpackagingforum.org/certification-carbon-footprint-pallets/
B. CEI BOIS
Go to CEI Bois Newsletter 01 / 2021 for an update on CEI Bois topics and activities.
4. CHANGES IN THE FEFPEB SECRETARIAT
After having served for 12 years Monique van Spijk will leave the FEFPEB secretariat as a consequence of a restructuring of her activities. Monique is not leaving our organisation, will remain active for the EPV and is available for any assistance to FEFPEB. Many thanks to Monique for the excellent co-operation.
Renske Paus is the new secretary, she is acquainted to the management of associations and no doubt she will feel at home in our industry very quickly.
Keep safe and stay healthy
Best regards,
Fons Ceelaert Secretary general FEFPEB P.O. Box 4076 |