BOISmag n°221
Summer shake-up
While the summer period is often synonymous with a lull in the wood and construction sectors, the year 2024 has upended all predictions with, in quick succession, two unexpected announcements: on the one hand, the court-ordered liquidation of our fellow publication Le Bois International, which quietly occurred just after the Carrefour International du Bois in Nantes and took the entire profession by surprise; on the other, the far more publicized announcement of the dissolution of the National Assembly, swiftly followed by snap legislative elections—further muddying France’s political landscape and, by extension, leaving several bills relating to our industry up in the air…
Amid this prevailing gloom, a glimmer of hope still brightens this unsettled summer. Also unexpected, this good news concerns the much-criticized REP PMCB, better known as the Building EPR scheme, whose implementation terms have sparked many controversies in recent months. Right on time, a new decree published in early July in the Official Journal (www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/ id/JORFTEXT000049890140) aims to facilitate free take-back of waste starting January 1, 2025. A “victory” for CAPEB, FFB, and distributors, who hail this major step forward after months of lobbying—and further proof that we can move the lines by staying united and focused on a common goal…
As the holidays draw near and the forest–wood sector can finally press the “pause” button for a few weeks, the fall looks decidedly full of surprises. While the composition of the government remains uncertain as we go to press, that of the sector’s interprofessional bodies is also shifting, with the election—just weeks apart—of three new presidents at the helm of France Bois Forêt, UMB-FFB, and Fibois France. Enough to reshuffle the deck among the sector’s institutions ahead of an autumn that promises to be rich in news… Until then, I wish you all a wonderful summer and a great vacation in the company of your magazine.
Adèle Cazier