Press Release | From waste to value: European wood-based panel sector scales circular business models with advanced recycling technologies
Wood recycling for material use is a prime showcase of circularity in European industry, where panel producers leverage digital technology to boost new markets. The EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy and the upcoming Circular Economy Act can foster higher resilience and competitive growth while lowering emissions, by creating the right policy framework for investments, research and innovation in the wood waste sector. These best practices and policy options were presented and discussed at the recent EcoReFibre Policy Conference in Brussels, in which over 70 experts participated.
On March 25, 2026, the Policy Conference “Unlocking Circularity and Market Potential from Wood Waste” brought together stakeholders from policy, industry and civil society in Brussels, hosted by the European Panel Federation (EPF) and the InnovaWood network, alongside the EcoReFibre consortium. The conference presented the results of the EU project and offered a platform to discuss and to enhance jointly the recommendations of the EcoReFibre Policy Roadmap supporting wood, circular economy and biobased sectors. The main purpose is to facilitate wider adoption and mainstreaming of innovative circular technologies and business models for wood waste valorisation, and scale them in different regional and national contexts. Europe has a unique opportunity to position the forest-based sector right in the heart of the Circular Bioeconomy.
Stefano Soro, European Commission, DG GROW – Head of Unit I4 for Sustainable Products
“Great to see circularity in action with EcoReFibre. This shows that a circular model can effectively prevent waste production. It is fully aligned with the ambitions of the Circular Economy Act, aiming to accelerate the EU’s transition towards a circular economy and double the circular material use rate.”
Christian Holzleitner, European Commission, DG CLIMA – Head of Unit for Land Economy and Carbon Removals
“Good market incentives are needed all along the value chain to support the sustainable transition.”
Adelaide Alves, Research and Development Group Director at Sonae Arauco, EcoReFibre Partner
“It has been a great pleasure to work together and connect the dots between the different actors through EcoReFibre, helping to pave the way for fibreboard recycling.”
In the afternoon workshop sessions, the participants were invited to discuss their views and positions and help codesign actionable policy recommendations and research needs. All these inputs will be compiled in a report to the European Commission as input for the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
