How we safeguard your EUDR journey
- News
Are you ready for EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)? An important step will be to set up own EU reporting systems. The good news is that SCA already has strong traceability routines in place and will provide the required documentation with every reel – backed by a dedicated EUDR team.
“Meeting the EUDR should feel effortless”
Pär-Micael Samuelsson
Europe’s largest private forest
As Europe’s largest private forest owner, with 2.7 million hectares in northern Sweden and the Baltics (an area the size of Belgium), SCA has long been proactive when it comes to compliance. Northern Swedish forests are already regulated under the Swedish Forest Agency, and SCA has maintained strict control and traceability for years.
Our products also carry PEFC and FSC marks for responsible forest management, and mills are certified according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 standards.
EUDR – beyond wood
Since 2013, SCA has complied with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which kept illegally harvested timber out of the EU. This is now being replaced by the stricter EUDR, which extends traceability beyond wood to commodities such as cattle, palm oil, soy, rubber, cocoa and coffee.
“The key change is proving that products are ‘deforestation-free' ”
Pär-Micael Samuelsson
“With so many regulations already in place, customers sometimes ask what’s really new about EUDR,” says Pär-Micael Samuelsson, a forest management and EUDR consultant working closely with SCA. “The key change is proving that products are ‘deforestation free,’ which means tracing raw materials back to the exact plot of land.
Caring for the next generation
This requires collecting geolocation data from harvest areas and submitting to EU authorities before wood can be placed on the market for the first time. But Pär-Micael isn’t too worried about any irregularities in Sweden, which is classed as a low-risk country. He adds: “I’ve never met a forest owner that isn’t caring for the next generation.”
“I’ve never met a forest owner that isn’t caring for the next generation”
Pär-Micael Samuelsson
Carefully sourced material
Overseeing EUDR reporting for SCA is Susanne Rutqvist, product manager, working alongside Pär-Micael.“We are already inputting our geolocation data into the EUDR Information System and 80 per cent of our raw material suppliers are on board,” she says, adding: “The forest is central to everything we do at SCA, and we treat it with respect and care.”
Current state of readiness
– Only 30% of upstream suppliers are EUDR-ready
– Just 12% of downstream suppliers have tracing systems in place
“The forest is central to everything we do at SCA, and we treat it with respect and care.”
Susanne Rutqvist
Information on your terms
Pär-Micael points out that converters need to let SCA know how they want to receive information. “You’ll get all the documentation you need with every reel. Just tell us how you’d like it: in XML format, as a PapiNet delivery message, or by email as a PDF or CSV file.”
With each reel, SCA provides:
– Reel number
– Reference numbers
– Verification numbers
Prepared for the future
Looking ahead, Susanne and Pär-Micael emphasise that SCA is here to make compliance feel as smooth as possible. “Meeting the EUDR should feel effortless,” concludes Pär-Micael.
Top 3 Tips from Pär-Micael
1. Take control of your own supply chain
You’ll receive reference and verification numbers from SCA – but you should still review your own supply chain and reporting processes. And of course, we have complete due diligence information (DDS) available should you wish to see it.
2. Ensure the data fits your system
Whether you get information as a delivery message, XML file, or through email as a PDF, make sure it can be uploaded smoothly into your own supply chain system so you can connect them to your own products.
3. Points to note on imports
When buying from outside the EU, you as the importer are responsible for due diligence and for submitting geolocation data in the EU Information System. Since not all suppliers are fully up to speed on EUDR, take extra care when sourcing non-EU reels.
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