Innovation in the spotlight at the 2019 PEFC Members Meeting

16 April 2019 Driving innovation

“Moving forward together” was not only the motto of our 2018 PEFC Forest Certification Week – our Members Meeting also saw innovative projects and promising ideas for the future.

Taking place last week in Geneva, the Members Meeting was the chance for the whole PEFC alliance to meet up, discuss key issues and share experiences and new ideas.

“It is great to see innovation and inspiration in the many projects of our members,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International.

Inspiring new technology

PEFC Italy presented “Tree talker”, a project led in collaboration with the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC).

Supported by the 2018 Collaboration Fund, “Tree talker” is a small-scale network that, through sensors tied to the trunks, monitors the health, growth and water exchanges of trees, and their response to human and climatic factors. 

The technology enables forest owners to act faster and adapt their forest management practises in response to changes within their forests.

New technology to engage smallholders was presented by Tom Martin from the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), one of our national members in the US. WoodsCamp, a free, web-based tool, connects smallholders with foresters and suggests conservation opportunities for their land.

Exploring new sectors 

Helping the hospitality sector to become more sustainable is on the agenda of PEFC Spain.

With several leading hotel chains committing to green policies, Ana Belén Noriega, National Secretary of PEFC Spain, emphasized the importance of PEFC certification for a sustainable hospitality sector.

There is great potential for PEFC-certification in that sector: from sustainable furniture, flooring and construction materials to forest fibres for staff uniforms, linen and napkins, PEFC-certified paper for brochures, and PEFC-certified food available in the region.

Fashion made from the forest

Active in our Forests for Fashion initiative, PEFC Italy demonstrated the impressive versatility of forest fibres. 

Besides Tencel and Lyocell, Antonio Brunori, National Secretary of PEFC Italy, presented a range of other fabrics, including Cypress fibres, Muskin – a fabric made from mushroom caps, Ryon and Modal, both made from regenerated cellulose.

“Forest fibres have a huge potential to make the fashion industry more sustainable while protecting the world’s forests”, said Antonio, as he gave a shirt made from the forest to Ben Gunneberg.

Other news presented at the Members’ Meeting included PEFC-certified honey from Uruguay and a sneak peek on the new instalment of Humans of the Forests.