The European Union stops the selling of products derived from deforestation with the EUDR.
In 2023, the European Union has adopted the ban on the market of products that contribute to deforestation. This European regulation requires goods or materials to be “zero deforestation”, manufactured in accordance with local legislation and accompanied by an official declaration of traceability.
By sourcing only thinning wood from sustainably managed forests around its production sites in France, the SOLER Group guarantees full traceability of its products (responsible charcoal, biocarbon, biocoal and biochar), from the plot to the production process. Its supply chain is certified by trusted labels – such as Sustainable Biomass Program, PEFC France and “Bois de France” – and is verified by the NGO Earthworm Foundation. The SOLER Group, with its responsible manufacturing process and renewable carbon, has already been complying with European obligations for many years.
What is the Regulation on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR)?
On the 31st of May 2023, as part of its Green Deal to fight climate change and biodiversity loss, the European Union has voted the establishment of the Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 about zero deforestation supply chains. The regulation prohibits the selling or export from the European market of products that have contributed to deforestation or forest degradation after the 30th of December 2020.
Relevant products shall not be placed or made available on the market or exported, unless all the following conditions are fulfilled:
- The products do not contribute to deforestation.
- The products have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production.
- The products are covered by a due diligence statement.
From the 30th of December 2024, companies shall exercise due diligence in their supply chain to ensure that the concerned products are not derived from deforestation.
The scope of the text covers seven consumer products: cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, as well as certain by-products such as leather, printed paper, charcoal, charcoal briquettes, nutshell briquettes, densified logs, firewood, etc.
The SOLER Group is committed to sustainable forest management practices
From the sourcing of raw materials to its production process, the SOLER Group controls its whole sustainable value chain. By sourcing from within a 60km radius of its production sites, we can guarantee that the wood cut complies with French smart-forest management practices. Forest maintenance, site restoration, soil protection, wood renewal through natural regeneration or planting, tree cutting, environmental preservation… The SOLER Group fully subscribes to these efforts of sustainable forestry, strengthening the resilience and capacity of forests to sequester and store carbon.
In the SOLER manufacturing process, the biomass from thinning operations is then converted into a high-quality, sustainable product: renewable carbon (biocarbon, biocoal and biochar). In addition to meeting our industrial customers’ needs, SOLER renewable carbon is certified by the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP), in accordance with the sustainability requirements for biomass of the European directive on renewable energy (RED II). We are also committed to verifying our supply chains and production processes with reliable labels: European Biochar Certificate, “Origine France Garantie”, PEFC France and “Bois de France”. We are proud to be members of the NGO Earthworm Foundation (we have the highest rating on the platform, A++), the club of WWF (“Entreprendre pour la Planète WWF France”), and BPI France’s community “Coq Vert”.
At the SOLER Group, we are convinced that the wise management of wood resources must be part of a value chain that respects the life cycle of forests and favours the emergence of a virtuous circular economy
Who is responsible for applying the EUDR?
The “operators” are held responsible for the application of the regulation, i.e. any legal entity or natural person who, within the scope of a commercial activity, puts up for sale or exports relevant products. The legal entity that has chosen to distribute the product is responsible for ensuring that it complies with the EURD, at the risk of being punished.
Industries, chains, independent affiliated shop… Who is responsible?
First, it is essential to check the contractual agreements and governance structures between chains and independent shops to determine the responsibilities. We also advise you to consult a legal advisor for a detailed analysis of the situation.
One planet…
In the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, we all have a role to play at the end of the day!
Significant penalties for non-compliance with EUDR
The longer and more remote the supply chain is, the greater the risks are. In addition, products could be detained in ports for inspection and risk analysis.
The penalties provided for are effective, proportionate, and dissuasive. Those penalties shall include:
- Fines proportionate to the environmental damage and the value of the product involved, up to at least 4 % of the operator’s or trader’s total annual Union-wide turnover in the financial year preceding the fining decision
- Confiscation of the relevant products concerned
- Confiscation of revenues gained from the products
- Temporary exclusion, for a maximum period of 12 months, from public procurement procedures and from access to public funding
- Temporary prohibition from exercising the simplified due diligence
- Criminal liability of the legal person with online publication of their name by the European Commission
The European regulation against deforestation-free products represents a significant step towards preservation of our forest ecosystems and their biodiversity thanks to rigorous standards for supply chains. With its long-standing commitment to its value chain transparency and sustainable forest management practices, SOLER stands out for its quick and easy compliance with European requirements. By choosing SOLER products, you are actively helping to protect our planet, while complying with the EURD and benefiting from simplified and secure administrative procedures.
