The Initiative Pro Massivholz (IPM) is currently complaining about shortages of hardwood. Oak wood in particular has been difficult to obtain in recent months. This has also made the production processes for solid wood furniture more difficult. The IPM is highly critical of the export of wood to distant countries: "The trees are felled here in Germany, shipped to China as round timber, processed there and then partly shipped back to Europe in the form of glulam panels, furniture or parquet flooring," said Hanhardt, Managing Director of Hartmann Möbelwerke GmbH.
Because this practice is contrary to climate protection due to the high CO2 emissions during shipping and the subsidization of hardwood imports by the Chinese state leads to a distortion of competition, the IPM advocates greater regional processing of hardwood. At EU level, it is also calling for a quota system for hardwood exports.
The IPM also appeals to the German government to advocate sustainable forest use and greater use of regional resources. This is because it fears set-asides and logging restrictions in German forests: "The raw material wood is becoming increasingly scarce in this way, and set-asides are virtually cutting off our manufacturers from their crucial raw material," says IPM Managing Director Andreas Ruf.
Source: IPM/moebelindustrie.de
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