The Sustainable Development Goal 15 aims to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems and promote their sustainable use. Our forests and their sustainable management play a particularly important role in this. Forests store water, safeguard biodiversity and provide the natural and renewable resource wood. Our forests, as central carbon sinks, play an essential role in climate protection. The sustainable forestry is the prerequisite for using wood as a climate-friendly material, now and in the future.
Good to know
Internationally recognised standard
Our timber supply chain can be certified by third parties in accordance with ISO 38200. This means that we fulfil all the legal requirements for the legality and transparency of the wood used in the EGGER Group.
Control measures by independent third parties
Wherever possible, the EGGER Group prefers to source wood from certified forests as proof of sustainable forestry. This includes FSC® and PEFC certified sources. (FSC® C017963 and PEFC/06-38-171)
We use wood in a multi-stage process
Sawmills produce timber from high-quality roundwood. For our wood-based materials, we refine wood assortments such as sawmill by-products, industrial wood that cannot be sawn, thinning and recycled wood, into high-quality products. In this way, we ensure that these valuable resources are not simply used for energy and burned.
We use resources responsibly
We rely on the use of wood from the circular economy. 65% of the wood we use in our wood-based materials throughout the Group comes from recycling or by-products of the sawmill industry. The rest of the wood comes, of course, from sustainable forestry.
Our commitment
The EGGER Group is a strong advocate and supporter of sustainable forestry. A sustainably managed forest is the best carbon storage and contributes significantly to climate protection. We ensure that the wood we use comes from sustainable forestry and legal sources. It goes without saying that we comply with the law. We also implement control measures that go beyond the legal requirements. At EGGER, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illegal logging.
- As part of our EGGER due diligence system, we ensure compliance with legal and social standards in our supply chains: Our due diligence system was developed with the help of internal and external experts. It is based on the ISO 38200 for the supply chain of wood and wood-based products. It regulates the transfer of information along the entire product chain of wood and wood-based products.
- Our due diligence system is certified according to the recognised supply chain standards.
- Internal and external audits that take place at least annually ensure compliance with ISO 38200. In Romania, our plant is externally audited annually.
- As a company that purchases wood and does not own its own forest resources, EGGER usually has no direct influence on sustainable forestry. For this reason, we carry out risk assessments for each supplier and, if necessary, additional strict controls in the upstream supply chain for the wood up to the forest.
- We refuse to accept deliveries where documents are incomplete or the origin of the wood is uncertain.
- We protect the climate and natural resources by purchasing as regionally as possible in the immediate vicinity of the plant.
- We procure our timber primarily through direct business relationships and avoid dealer structures. This makes the entire process transparent. We prefer to source wood from certified forests, depending on availability. We rely on the well-known certification systems for sustainable forest management, FSC® and PEFC.
- Our manufacturer's declaration on wood origins discloses the wood origin and shows the proportion of certified wood by product group and supplier plant (calculated and monitored according to ISO 38200).
Further information can be found in our Financial and Sustainability Report.
Measures and progress
Every step counts! We are committed to sustainable forestry. We are constantly taking measures to ensure that our most valuable resource, wood, is sustainably procured and used.
A large audience for resource conservation
June 2024
We were an exhibitor at the KWF Conference once again, one of the world's largest forestry trade fairs, which took place in Schwarzenborn (DE). We believe in working together in partnership and particularly value the exchange with our suppliers and representatives of the industry. We were able to present our approach to the cascading use of the valuable resource wood to a wide audience.
Product innovation EcoBox
May 2024
We use wood in the best possible way. To this end, we completely rethink products. The EGGER EcoBox is a hybrid product made of OSB, timber and wood fibre insulation. The efficient material combination reduces wood consumption and saves weight in use. The EcoBox is a modern alternative to solid wood supports in timber frame walls.
Green Week: Insights for 400 students
April 2024
In Romania, there is a so-called Green Week every school year: It includes targeted activities outside school on topics such as environmental protection and climate change. EGGER took part once again and invited students to the Rădăuţi plant (RO). The focus was on our contribution to the circular economy and the importance of cascading the use of wood. During the plant tours, school classes were given a detailed insight into the processes at EGGER.
Long-term buying directly from the plant gates
2023
To minimise transport distances and ensure regional supply in the long term, EGGER is concluding special contracts with municipal and private forest owners in the vicinity of the Rion des Landes (FR) plant – the third of its kind in 2023. The average distance to our plant is only 10 km. A win-win solution on both sides. In this way, we are supporting the forest owners in the region in the long-term management of their forests. This model underlines our long-term approach in our procurement strategy.
Creating added value for partners
April 2023
We stand for long-term partnerships and co-operation. It is therefore important to us to create added value through information for our suppliers. In 2023, Supplier Days were once again held at our plant in Rădăuţi (RO). We use plant tours to transparently demonstrate our processes and organise targeted information events on topics that are particularly important to our suppliers and us: for example, on the subject of work safety and how we can work together to prevent accidents.
High-quality products made from damaged wood
2022
In South Tirol (IT), a 2018 storm caused a lot of damaged timber, followed by subsequent events such as snow breakage and bark beetle infestation. We can use this wood in our production and make high-quality wood-based materials from it. A good solution for everyone involved: We take the wood and thus support the forest owners. It is important to remove damaged wood quickly so that the bark beetle does not spread unchecked. Since 2022, we have been transporting the majority of it by rail from South Tirol.
We support small forest owners
2020
The burdens on small forest owners have increased in recent years. There are more costs and climate-related difficulties. The risk: Local areas are not being reforested due to a lack of funds. In France, in the Vosges region, near our Rambervillers plant, the FA3R plantation fund is helping foresters to reforest their mostly small forest areas. EGGER has been involved in the initiative since 2020.