JUNE 2019
Successful FEFPEB spring meeting held in Edinburgh
Group welcomes change to European Union’s Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive
FEFPEB welcomed its members from 15 European countries to its spring meeting, which was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in early May.
The annual gathering included several presentations. The speakers included MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) Fergus Ewing, who is the Scottish Rural Economy Secretary, who spoke on the importance of the wooden pallet and packaging sector to Scotland and the outlook with regards to Brexit. Other presenters included Chief Executive of CONFOR, Stuart Goodall, who spoke about the Edinburgh-based organization’s work with government to increase stocks of timber and Guy Watt of John Clegg Consulting, who presented the latest report on the UK industry, which he carried out on behalf of the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON).
FEFPEB representatives were updated on the potential implications on the industry of Brexit and stressed the importance of its members in the UK and Europe working together to ensure that trade will remain smooth whatever final deal occurs. Attendees heard about the recent work of the European Confederation of Forest Industries (CEI-Bois) in areas including wood availability
and sustainability, free trade policies and wood dust.
FEFPEB’s committees for industrial packaging, ISPM15, pallet pools and PR also held meetings during the two-day event.
The spring meeting was organized with the help of the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), which represents the sector in the UK and Ireland. John Dye, TIMCON president, said: “We are very proud to welcome the European pallet and packaging industry to Edinburgh, which as well as being one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, is also a major hub for forest-based industries such as pallets and packaging.”
“The spring meeting saw an important exchange of information between members and discussion on subjects including European legislation, recycling and ISPM15,” said Ceelaert. “International logistics is connected by its very nature, so collaboration between the UK and our colleagues in Europe and beyond is essential, both now and after Brexit, to ensure that business remains smooth and wooden pallets and packaging continue to play their central role, both as a facilitator of trade and a part of the increasingly prominent circular economy.”