Building with Wood

Organisers: European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois); European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC); European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) and the EESC's Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI).

New uses of wood in the construction of homes and other buildings is an exciting area that offers unprecedented prospects for sustainable growth and very real employment opportunities for the European economy. Wood products can be used in the construction of various kinds of houses and buildings either on their own or together with materials such as concrete or steel. They combine highly prized benefits such as thermal and sound insulation, CO2 absorption, durability, improved resistance to earth tremors and safety for health, as well as promoting the sustainability of Europe's forests and jobs for local workers. The strong demand for wood from Asian economies, which then re-export it to us as manufactured goods, is prompting a large number of mill and factory closures in Europe. Challenged by a scarcity of this very precious raw material and the need for training and promotion, the industry's business and labour representatives set out the sector's evolution, strengths, difficulties and prospects.