General meeting of Assopannelli: strategies for wood companies

A look into the future to identify development strategies. On July 17 last, at the Auditorium Research Centre of Fantoni, in Osoppo, it was held the Annual General Meeting of Assopannelli, association part of FederlegnoArredo gathering all panel manufacturers in Italy. A key moment for a debate which involved leaders of the industry. Among the topics, the wood, which the European Commission has recognized as “critical material” confirming its intention to enhance the cascading use (use, reuse, recycling, energy recovery). Among the objectives of Assopannelli for the foreseeable future, the elimination of distortions in the commodity market, in order to phase out subsidies for burning wood in the production of renewable energy.
“While relying on aheritageforestof about11 million hectares,” recalled PaoloFantoni (president of Assopannelli). “Italy isthe biggest importer offirewoodin the world,with a consumption of16 milliontons of woodin 2013. We are asking the institutions the elimination of subsidiesto biomass, which leads to aparadoxicallack of raw materials, impacting the entirewood industry,furnitureincluded.Additionally, it increases costsfor families. The carrying out by governmentsand regionsof the Eu strategyto pass from 15 to 20percentofGdprelated tomanufacturing  industry passes also, and especially, through the efficient use of resources“.