From waste to value: European wood-based panel sector scales circular business models with advanced recycling technologies | Press Release

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.