Activities
▪ Dealing with information and statistics
EOS is the main channel for gathering information about the European sawmilling industries. Therefore, EOS does not only gather and provides information from and to its members, it also consults with different European, international and national sources.
This information is published every year in the EOS annual report which aims to become a handbook for the European sawmilling sector. It gathers statistical data of the sawmilling sector in general and per member country. EOS also aims to include the developments in the main foreign markets and to align its data with international institutions like UNECE/FAO.
Copies of the yearbook can be obtained through the EOS Secretariat.
▪ Meeting point for the sawmilling sector
EOS gathers the European sawmillers during different meetings. The major event is the annual General Assembly, which is organised in an EOS member state and hosted by the national federation.
Furthermore, EOS meets on a regular basis with representatives of the hardwood and softwood sector regrouped in advisory committees, which assist the board.
EOS is also a co-organiser of the International Softwood Conference and European Hardwood Conference.
▪ The route into the CEI-Bois cooperation
CEI-Bois and EOS are closely linked as EOS is a member of CEI-Bois and shares the same offices and secretariat. However, the role of EOS within the CEI-Bois structure should be strengthened seeing the large proportion sawmilling represents in the woodworking industries.
EOS is also highly involved in the Roadmap 2010 process launched by CEI-Bois, especially within the Wood in Sustainable Development process.
▪ A continued strengthening of EOS
Besides gathering and providing information from and to its members, EOS also follows relevant political developments at European level on different fields, such as environment (forest action plan, emissions, etc.), standards (construction products, CE-marking, etc.) and international trade (trade barriers, phytosanitary measures, etc.).
▪ Promotional activities
EOS promotes the use of wood at all levels. This means that it has its own promotional activities, like press releases, publications, etc. It also supports initiatives from its members, e.g. the Schweighofer Prize.
At European level, EOS tries to promote wood, mostly in the framework of the Roadmap 2010 process. In 2006, under the Roadmap 2010 process, EOS held an exhibition at the European Parliament to inform decision-makers about the environmental benefits of using wood.
The book “Tackle climate change: Use wood!” was published within the same scope. It has been very successful since then, including further distribution, reprints and translations in no less than 8 languages: Danish, English, French, Italian, Latvian, German, Polish and Swedish. Czech, Dutch and Spanish will be available soon.
▪ Roadmap 2010: Wood in Sustainable Development process
The Roadmap 2010 is a strategic project of the European woodworking and furniture industries, aiming at increasing the use of wood products in Europe in order to secure the future of the industry. The objective is to increase the annual growth in demand for wood products by 1 to 4% by 2010. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, the project consists of 4 processes, each directed by a national federation or European organisation:
- Building with Wood (Austria)
- Living with Wood (Spain)
- Wood in Sustainable Development (EOS)
- Wood in Packaging and Transport (FEFPEB)
EOS is responsible for the coordination of the work around “Wood in Sustainable Development”. Within the WiSD-process, we try to get the message through that wood is the only truly renewable, recyclable and multi-functional resource, and to include the concept of “enhanced use of wood” in national and European programmes on environment, climate change, energy, etc.
In 2006, an exhibition was organised at the European Parliament. The “Tackle Climate Change: Use wood” book was also published on that occasion. It has been very successful since then, including further distribution, reprints and translations in no less than 8 languages: Danish, English, French, Italian, Latvian, German, Polish and Swedish. Czech, Dutch and Spanish will be available soon.
More information on the Roadmap 2010 process can be found on the Roadmap 2010 website. Copies of the publication “Tackle Climate Change: Use wood”, can be obtained at the EOS Secretariat.