As part of the EU's Green Deal, the European Commission has initiated the new ESPR Regulation, replacing the old Ecodesign Directive. Now, TMF, the Swedish industry and employers' organisation for the wood-processing and furniture industry, together with the European Furniture Industry Confederation (EFIC), has succeeded in securing a specific focus on renewable raw materials.
Photo: TMF
A regulation means that legislation will be directly implemented in all member states, strengthening harmonisation within the EU. Considering the Swedish furniture industry's significant focus on exports, where nearly 80 percent of production is destined for foreign markets, it is crucial for the Swedish furniture industry to compete on equal terms in the common market.
Therefore, Robin Ljungar, TMF's sustainability manager, sees it as positive that the requirements for the European furniture industry are shaped in a way that does not disadvantage TMF's member companies. When the European Commission presented the original legislative proposal ESPR, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, almost two years ago, the word "renewable" was not included. This was pointed out during the consultation period, and when the final negotiated version was presented, there was indeed a specific focus on renewable materials.
'It is very relevant and important for the wood industry. We need to move away from finite raw materials and use renewable ones, and wood is one of the few materials that is truly renewable,' says Robin Ljungar.
The ESPR legislation is comprehensive legislation that will have a significant impact on all products sold on the internal market, regardless of whether they are produced within or imported into the EU. The aim is to make sustainable products the norm in the EU's internal market and to reduce the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. In the final version of ESPR, eleven product groups are named, with furniture being one of them that will face high requirements in the initial phase of legislative work. Product-specific requirements will be developed within special expert groups, Ecodesign forums, which will include industry organizations such as EFIC (European Furniture Industry Confederation), of which TMF is a part.
'During the development of the ESPR Regulation, TMF has conveyed the industry's views on the draft legislation through both EFIC and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. This is how we have had the opportunity to emphasize the importance of a focus on renewable materials. We have worked this in, and it is truly satisfying that the legislator has now taken this into account. The upcoming work with product-specific requirements awaits, where TMF, through EFIC, will participate in future Ecodesign forums for furniture. We will, of course, do everything to influence the regulations so that they are relevant and appropriate for our member companies,' concludes Robin Ljungar.
More information:
TMF
www.tmf.se
