The European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB) has announced plans to strengthen the organisation’s response to growing political, environmental and regulatory challenges facing the sector.
The federation is working on a strategy to help the industry better tackle increasing legislative obligations and consolidate FEFPEB’s position as the recognised voice of the sector in Europe and beyond.
FEFPEB’s future structure and direction was among the items discussed at FEFPEB’s spring meeting in Porto, which was hosted by the Portuguese Association of Wood and Furniture Industries (AIMMP) earlier this year.
“As the regulatory and political landscape becomes increasingly complex, it is essential that FEFPEB builds on the past eighty years of work to remain a strong, united European organisation, and evolves to best represent our members’ businesses into the future,” said FEFPEB Secretary General Fons Ceelaert.
“FEFPEB has represented the industry on issues that include international phytosanitary regulations and ISPM 15, circular economy policy, packaging legislation, and sustainability requirements. Through our Packaging from Nature campaign, we have also worked to raise awareness of the important contribution that wooden pallets and packaging make to the European economy and the environment.
At the spring meeting, President Rob van Hoesel and Secretary General Fons Ceelaert gave an overview of FEFPEB’s initial thinking about future strategy, and invited members to engage with the development of the strategy as detailed proposals are progressed during the course of 2026.
The meeting was also given a preview of the 73rd FEFPEB Congress – titled Wood packaging in a resilient Europe – which will be held from 30 September to 2 October 2026 in Båstad, Sweden, and hosted by Swedish Wood.
The bi-annual large-scale congress will welcome delegates from the European pallet and packaging industry for three days of networking, industry updates and discussions, and social events. The programme will include company visits, industry presentations and discussions on market developments, sustainability, circular economy policy and the wider economic and geopolitical factors affecting the sector.
Confirmed speakers for the congress include Viveka Beckeman, CEO of Swedish Forest Industries; Christian Nielsen, Market Analyst at Swedish Wood and the Swedish Forest Industries Federation; Nikhil Varghese, Senior Associate for Circular Economy at DGA; and geopolitical analyst Björn Fägersten.
You can find more details about this year’s FEFPEB congress at: https://congress-fefpeb-2026.event-informatie.nl/
