Press release: European wood pallet and packaging industry highlights compliance collaboration
It was one of the key messages from the 72nd annual FEFPEB Congress - held in Vienna on October 23 and 24 2025 - for representatives from across Europe’s wooden pallet and packaging sector.
The event was opened by FEFPEB President Rob van Hoesel, alongside Dieter Lechner of the Association of Austrian Wood Industries (Fachverband der Holzindustrie Österreichs) and FEFPEB Secretary General Fons Ceelaert, and featured presentations and discussions about the implications of tightening sustainability compliance obligations facing the industry. This included developments in major legislation including European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and the EU Circular Economy Act.
Speakers at the two-day event included:
- DI Gerhard Pichler, Managing Director, PEFC Austria, who spoke about sustainable forest management in Austria and the country’s PEFC certification system.
- Andy Huvaere, Operations Manager, Valipac (Belgium), on the challenges and implications for the industry of EPR regulations.
- Professor Manfred Tacker, University of Applied Sciences Vienna, on the potential impact of the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) for pallet and packaging producers.
- Claudiu-Nicolae Sonda, CEI-Bois, on current advocacy topics and the latest developments related to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
FEFPEB Secretary General Fons Ceelaert updated the meeting about the organisation’s recent work and priorities.
“Cooperation with other wood-based industries and related institutions is vital to FEFPEB’s work,” said Ceelaert. “Working closely together allows us to share our expertise and experience and set common goals to tackle the challenges of regulatory compliance. Our Vienna congress was the perfect example of these collaborative efforts.”
The meeting concluded with an announcement about the 73rd full FEFPEB Congress, to be held in Sweden in autumn 2026, presented by Edward Sandin of Swedish Wood; and was closed with remarks by President Rob van Hoesel.
The two-day congress was hosted at the Federation of Austrian Wood Industries (Fachverband der Holzindustrie Österreichs).
It began with a networking dinner reception at Vienna’s Zum Martin Sepp restaurant and was supported by Kara/BES Bolmann; Euroblock; Acadon; Storti; and Baltic Block Ltd.
An overview and presentations from the congress will be published on www.fefpeb.eu
Notes:
- The European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers (Fédération Européenee des Fabricants de Palettes and Emballages en Bois – FEFPEB) represents European national timber packaging associations, including the pallet, lightweight packaging and industrial packaging sectors. It was established in 1946.
- It is a not for profit organisation, whose objectives include promotion of timber packaging and representing the interests of the European wooden pallet and packaging industry.
- National professional associations of wooden pallet and packaging manufacturers are full members of FEFPEB.
- Other companies involved in the industry, including suppliers of timber and timber blocks, machines and equipment are associated or individual members.
- The major European pallet pools (including EPAL, CHEP, LPR, IPP Logipal and PRS) are also part of FEFPEB.