Already committed to the act of building with all its trades, the wood-construction sector is one of the first contributors to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gases.
Valobat, a candidate for eco-organisation approval, aspires to be the benchmark player for wood products and has great ambitions for this material with its multiple advantages.
In early 2022, the Union of Wood Manufacturers and Builders (UICB) and the National Federation of Wood (FNB) entered the capital of Valobat. A strong message expressing their shared desire to support timber stakeholders in these upcoming changes, with five priority objectives:
- Successful business engagement in EPR,
- Building eco-design criteria adapted to the wood industry,
- Encourage the reuse and reuse of wood products,
- Promote the recycling and recovery of wood,
- Obtain visibility of the eco-contribution on quotes and invoices.
The French timber industry: ambitious objectives
Wood is a material that brings many advantages to the construction and renovation sector. Efficient, the French sector provides biosourced and renewable products adapted to the markets. They contribute to improving the sector's carbon footprint. By-products, as well as end-of-life wood products, are recycled (panels) or can constitute a source of energy in individual or collective equipment (heating networks). The sector has set itself ambitious objectives:
- by doubling the market share of wood in new collective housing (from 3% to 6%),
- going from 10% to 15% in single-family homes,
- by increasing to 15% the share of wood solutions used in the renovation of collective buildings,
- by increasing the market share of wood in solutions for the rehabilitation and renovation of individual housing by 20%.
Five shared priorities and strong commitments
Successful business engagement in EPR
As of January 1, 2023, companies in the wood sector concerned by the PMCB REP will have to join an eco-organization such as Valobat and pay an eco-contribution associated with the marketing of their products. It is a strong commitment in the construction of the sector and for the respect of their environmental obligations.
FNB, UICB and VALOBAT commitments
Provide companies with reliable information and construct an eco-contribution scale adapted to the wood sector through the dedicated sector committee. In order to benefit from privileged information, they can pre-join the Valobat - Valobat eco-organisation project.
Building eco-design criteria adapted to the wood industry
The eco-design of PMCBs makes it possible to control the costs of managing demolition, deconstruction and building renovation waste, to improve collection and recovery performance (reuse/reuse or recycling). Wood has many advantages: biosourced and renewable origin as well as a positive carbon balance.
The FNB, UICB AND VALOBAT commitment
Build a scale reflecting the strengths and ambitions of the wood material by proposing eco-modulations from the scale applicable in 2024. It will be offered to companies in order to guide them in eco-design projects for their products from 2024.
Encourage the reuse of wood products
Reuse is the priority action to be carried out in the hierarchy of waste treatment methods. In a context of scarcity of resources, issues of illegal dumping and more broadly of waste management, it is attracting more and more players who are committed to exemplary initiatives. The EPR sector has been set very ambitious objectives.
The FNB, UICB and VALOBAT commitment
Support experiments and the construction of a framework and methods for reusing wood. This action is part of the action plan and the study provided for in the specifications for the approval of eco-organisations.
Promote recycling and recovery of wood
The draft specifications for eco-organizations set recycling targets for wood at 42% in 2024 and 45% in 2027. Wood also contributes to the objectives of the French energy sovereignty policy. Valobat will offer waste holders, in particular wood from construction sites and sorted separately, recovery solutions free of charge from numerous facilities (public or professional waste collection centres, distributors, specialized points). Information on sorting locations and instructions will facilitate sorting. A guarantee of performance in order to supply raw materials to industry and wood boilers.
FNB, UICB and VALOBAT commitments
Let companies concerned by EPR and their customers know that the wood industry is committed to concrete and operational circular economy loops.
Participate in R&D and innovation programs on outfalls, wood sorting and recycling techniques.
Obtain visibility of the eco-contribution on quotes and invoices
The visibility of the eco-contribution implies the display of its amount supported by each product or material on the invoice or the estimate, and the impossibility of commercially negotiating its amount between the manufacturers and the various intermediaries. While it is provided for household electrical and electronic products and furniture, the texts do not provide for it for PMCBs. However, this measure is an essential and indispensable tool for combating inflation, informing the consumer, facilitating declarations to the eco-organization and a provision particularly suited to the building sector.
The FNB, UICB and VALOBAT commitment
Coordinate their actions in order to obtain this essential measure from the public authorities or Parliament.