EUDR, commonly called the EU Deforestation Regulation, was published on June 29, 2023. Companies affected by the regulation have until December 30, 2025, to adapt their operations according to the new rules. The regulation imposes stringent requirements on traceability and documentation of the supply chain for the affected raw materials, and applies to all European companies. Within the EU, selling and exporting products that have contributed to deforestation will also be prohibited. ABENA AB's Sustainability, Quality, and Environmental Manager, Sofia Lindell, explains how the new regulation will affect you as a customer of ABENA AB.
Background of the regulation
Between 1990 and 2020, 420 million hectares of forest were cleared worldwide, an area as large as the entire EU. Deforestation drives climate change, loss of biodiversity, and creates disruptions in vital ecosystems*.
To curb this development, the European Union has developed a new regulatory framework: EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation), which comes into force on December 30, 2025. From that date onwards, products sold within or exported from the EU must be deforestation-free. All European companies must also be able to verify the exact location where each affected raw material (wood, coffee, soy, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, cattle) originates and map the entire supply chain for each affected product.
"The new legislation requires transparency and traceability between companies at a whole new level. To meet the requirements of the regulation, we focus on dialogue and cooperation with our suppliers," says Sofia Lindell.
Preparations
To prepare for the new regulatory framework coming into force in December 2025, ABENA AB has developed tools, updated internal processes and routines:
"Within the ABENA Group, we have developed tools to collect and document the requested data, and at the local level, we have created risk assessments based on this. At a group level, we have also assembled an IT group to address how we can easily track which of our products are covered by EUDR," Sofia continues.
In addition to all the documentation work, we are also mapping our supply chain:
"We have almost all our suppliers within the EU, which we see as positive. According to the requirements of the regulation, we have also developed new routines for reporting our purchases in the EU's information system TRACES (the platform where all companies must register their EUDR certificates)", Sofia explains.
How are you as a customer of ABENA AB affected?
ABENA AB manufactures products made of paper (wood), such as wash cloths, bibs, and protective sheets. In addition to these products, plates, cups, cutlery, napkins, and latex gloves (containing rubber) will also be covered. If you are a small customer of ABENA AB, you only need access to reference numbers from TRACES, while larger customers are responsible for collecting documentation from all their suppliers, linked to the requirements of the regulation on due diligence**. However, as a producer, ABENA AB provides the necessary documentation related to our products, regardless of the size of your company.
"With that said, every company within the EU must, of course, take its responsibility. At ABENA AB, we now ask the same questions to our suppliers that our customers ask us," says Sofia.
A positive change for the future
The new regulatory framework imposes high demands on both small and large companies and entails a significant change in documentation, but despite this, ABENA AB is positive about the regulation.
"There are still some uncertainties regarding the regulatory framework, but we follow the development and adapt our work accordingly. Since it is legislation, we must comply with the regulation, but it is also a change that we support," concludes Sofia.
Source reference
*) The background of the regulation
**) System for due diligence declarations