TS 11 – Biotic Materials
This document provides a detailed report of Thematic Session 11 (Biotic Materials) for the Operational Group (OG)
meetings held on Tuesday 11th November 2014 in support of the EIP for Raw Materials.
Approximately 15 delegates attended this thematic session meeting, which was moderated by Ms Ewa Oney (DG ENTR).
The participants included members of EIP OG1 (Sustainable and Safe Supply), OG3 (Regulatory Framework, Knowledge and
Infrastructure Base) and OG4 (Collection, Sorting and Recycling), as well as representatives of relevant Raw Materials
Commitments (RMCs), who presented their Commitments to the Group. The objectives of the meeting were to promote
cooperation and possible clustering of RMCs and to consider how best to enlarge the EIP community. A secondary
objective was to map Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) coverage by the RMCs and identify possible gaps.
Presentations were given by all three of the biotic RMCs (GENTLE; SWEETSTOCK; ECAMOB). GENTLE had very strong
industry support and focussed on a new forest forwarder technology that, it was hoped, would help the forest-based
sector become more environmentally-friendly and economically-efficient. SWEETSTOCK aimed to improve forest-based
sector harvesting and logistics through the use of technological innovations (notably, in IT) and enhanced silviculture.
ECAMOB focussed on the cascade use of wood and on making the European wood market more efficient. Members
agreed that in terms of clustering, cooperation between all biotic RMCs was already taking place, and should continue.
Members suggested that further synergies may be possible between these RMCs and other RMCs, notably on secondary
raw materials. They also agreed to explore potential synergies between wood and minerals, in particular with regard to
substituting certain minerals with wood fibre. It was felt that one-page summaries about existing RMCs would be useful
for the identification of synergies between RMCs. Wood recycling would be addressed in the OG on recycling.
In terms of SIP coverage, members noted that the SIP action on ‘wood mobilisation’ required further refinement with
regard to some of its focus areas, and in particular on: logistics; technology training; improving harvesting technologies;
improving existing resource information systems and policy support for wood mobilisation.
In terms of work going forward, members noted:
 There are many on-going projects of relevance to the forest-based sector in the area of wood-mobilisation, both at
Member State and Regional level. It may be useful to map what is currently being done, in order to set priorities
(ECAMOB has started doing this).
 The R&D projects on forest sector harvesting technology in Framework Programme Seven were considered underrepresented, when compared to the importance of developing new technologies. Innovation in this area is needed if
Europe is to remain competitive, when compared to regions with much faster growth rates, lower personnel costs and
less regulation.
 The forest-based sector could contribute to the EIP target of setting-up 10 pilot projects by establishing a pilot
initiative on harvesting technologies.
The meeting concluded with a summing up by the designated rapporteur, Mr Johan Elvnert, who noted:
 The meeting had been useful, as it had allowed members to discuss relevant RMCs in detail. The biotic RMCs were
good, highly relevant, and he hoped that they would be successful.
 There were some implementation questions regarding the EIP and biotic RMCs.
 Some members felt that it may not be the best option to use limited resources to recruit Member State Regions to the
Group, at this stage.
 The possibility of co-operation with the EIP on Agriculture could be explored. The Forest-Based Sector ETP is already
liaising with the relevant EIP on Agriculture project officer.
At the end of the meeting, Ms Oney thanked members for their participation, comments and questions. She summarised
the future EIP timeline. There will be an Annual Conference held in mid-January 2015 (13-14 January), with the next round
of OG meetings taking place in February 2015.