The goal of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is to ensure that the products Europeans buy, use, and consume do not cause deforestation or forest degradation globally. At the same time, the goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the deterioration of biodiversity.
The European Commission, Parliament and Member States have reached an agreement on amending the EUDR. This agreement postpones the EUDR's entry into application by one year to 30 December 2026. In addition, the Commission will carry out a review to streamline the regulation by 30 April 2026 to clarify the changes in the reporting obligations.
The EUDR covers commodities such as wood, in addition to other commodities identified in the Regulation. In the case of wood, derived products such as pulp and paperboard are covered.
The regulation requires operators and traders to have a due diligence system in place to ensure that their products come from legal sources and comply with the regulation.
By the time the regulation enters into application, Metsä Board’s operating model will be compliant with the EUDR and the guidance documents provided by the European Commission. Metsä Board continues to follow the official guidance from the European Commission, national competent authorities, and legislators, and adjusts its operating model if needed.
Metsä Board’s EUDR compliance consists of two main areas:
- Due diligence process for wood sourcing
- Country-specific risk assessment and risk mitigation plan
- Supplier audits
- Management of required EUDR information
Metsä Board has conducted a risk assessment of its wood sourcing countries, and the result was compatible with the Global Forest Risk Assessment report of the EU authorities.
More information on the topic can be found on Metsä Group's website.