EPF represents the manufacturers of particleboard, MDF, OSB, hardboard, softboard and plywood, with members in 30 European countries. The sector turns over €25 billion annually and creates 100,000 direct jobs. EPF and its members bring extensive expertise in the advanced production and application of wood-based panel products. These are natural, sustainable, and climate positive. Innovation and circularity are core to our industry, with more than 75% of the fibre in our largest product type now coming from recovered wood and industrial by-products.

Wood-based panels are sold into the furniture, construction and packaging industries, among others. EPF stands for a more sustainable future for society that is economic, ecological and made for people. To achieve this, EPF has defined 5 core Strategic Directions reflecting the collective vision of its members: (1) Role Model Industry – Transforming Europe into a net zero economy, (2) Climate – Make climate regulation work for the WBP industry, (3) Wood Availability – Secure access to our key raw material, (4) Harmonisation – Support one harmonised Europe, and avoid fragmentation and (5) Regulation – Defend the industry against excessive regulation.

Founded in 1952 in Brussels, CEI-Bois is the European Confederation of the Woodworking Industries. It numbers sixteen national organisations, four European sector federations as well as one commercial public establishment. Looking at the market, the production value of the European woodworking Industry was close to 240 billion EUR in 2018 while, in the same year, about 397 000 enterprises were active in wood-based industries across the EU, representing 20% of EU manufacturing enterprises. CEI-Bois is also one of the founders of the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP).

The primary goal of CEI-Bois is to promote the interests of the European wood sector and to this end to contribute to the EU policy-making process. It is the main body representing the European Woodworking Industries at European and International level. In particular, CEI-Bois’s mission is to promote the sector and the use of wood in its numerous forms and applications, to represent and safeguard the European Woodworking Industries interests and finally to highlight the natural sustainability of wood and wood-based products. CEI-Bois supports its Members through five working groups: construction, research & innovation, sustainability, trade and social affairs. Additional ad hoc task forces are established when needed; the most recent addition is the Task Force dealing with issues related to Deforestation and Illegal Logging.

EOS represents the interests of the European sawmilling sector on European and International level. Through its member federations and associated members, EOS represents some 35.000 sawmills in 12 countries across Europe (both hardwood and softwood producers), manufacturing sawn boards, timber frames, glulam, decking, flooring, joinery, fencing and several other wood products. Together they represent roughly 80% of the total European sawn wood output. While European countries remain very relevant export markets for EOS producers, EOS companies are each passing year more and more export-oriented: currently around half of the exports of the European sawmill industry are absorbed by non-EU markets. Securing access to raw material is therefore vital for the European sawmill industry.

The European Organization of the Samwill Industry (EOS) is committed to advancing de-carbonization of the economy not only within the EU but also outside. Wood is a renewable material and harvested wood products (HWPs) retain CO2 throughout their lifecycle. EOS advocates for a European green growth that creates favourable conditions for a Bioeconomy focused on the production and utilisation of natural, sustainable climate friendly resources to generate high-value industrial products. Although collaboration is well established with other forestry related organisations. EOS regularly consults its Members and all decisions and position papers are adopted on unanimous basis. EOS strongly believes that no interests should left behind, companies are equally valuable disregarding the size or turnover.

InnovaWood is EU network for wood science, research, innovation and education of 60 organisations in 28 countries, including RTOs, universities, VET centres and cluster organisations. Founded in 2003, and based since 2010 in Brussels, InnovaWood represents a common voice for promoting more impact from innovative uses of wood, Europe’s main abundant renewable raw material, in line with the major policies of the European Union.

The overall aim is to bring business benefit to the value chain by providing a forum for the member organisations and contribute to the competitive development of the European forest-based sector. The network represents organisation in the entire value chain from forestry and wood processing to construction, furniture and bioeconomy. InnovaWood communicates towards decision-makers in policy, administration and industry on the EU and national level. Collectively, its members are involved in at least 1,500 national and 250 international projects.

EFBWW is the European Trade Union Federation grouping 76 national free trade unions from 34 countries with members in the building, building materials, woodworking, forestry and allied industries and trades. The Federation's main task is to represent its affiliates in Europe and help them defend the rights and interests of the workers in the industries it covers. Since the virtual completion of the European Market, and especially since the conclusion of the Amsterdam Treaty, strong representation in Brussels has become all the more important. The European Union has now become a legislative entity in its own right, but in our view it still has some catching up to do in terms of developing its social dimension. The EFBWW also provides a framework for union cooperation and the coordination of action taken in the industries we represent.

The EFBWW is in favour of European integration in the interest of Europe’s workers and citizens. We see European integration as a means to uphold fundamental rights for all workers and citizens and as a bulwark to protect Europe’s democratic institutions, such as the rule of law and freedom of speech. In a nutshell, we deal with the labour market, migration, capacity building, industrial relations, health and safety issues, worker representation in multinational companies. Together with the ETUC and the other European Industry Federations we are striving to achieve a more social Europe. The EFBWW works in close cooperation with the Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI)

InnoRenew CoE is an independent research institute established in 2017. Research targets renewable materials and sustainable buildings, specifically innovative approaches to wood and its use, with the goal of transferring scientific knowledge into industrial practice. InnoRenew CoE’s international, interdisciplinary team of scientists and professionals is available for independent consultation, project work or Living Lab InnoRenew collaboration.

InnoRenew CoE’s mission is to advance the state of the art in nature-based solutions, especially using wood, that support and accelerate the adoption of regenerative sustainability through:

• Material and processing advances to optimise efficiency and generate knowledge,
• Engineered living materials to bring the function and capabilities of living organisms,
• Design solutions for health and sustainability based on Restorative Environmental and Ergonomic Design (REED)