Hosted by the Aegean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association (EMKOÜİB), a high-level panel was held to brief industry stakeholders on the EU’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) and to accelerate the compliance process.
Adopted by the European Union on 29 June 2023 and set to become applicable at the end of 2025, this regulation is not only an environmental policy; it also represents a new global trade standard reshaping international commerce.
From Raw Material to Finished Product Transparency: EUDR is Transforming Turkish Furniture
Müjdat Kemer, Chair of EMKOÜİB’s Furniture Working Committee, said: “Today, Türkiye’s furniture industry is a strong global player with exports worth 4.5 billion dollars. But with EUDR, scrutiny will extend beyond production quality to the transparency of the entire supply chain—from raw material to finished product. This regulation makes deforestation-free, sustainably sourced and traceable production mandatory. As EMKOÜİB, we view this not as a barrier but as a global opportunity to elevate our sector’s brand value. We are planning trainings, software-based traceability systems, and EU-aligned guidance to prepare our companies for this process. If we read the moment correctly, Turkish furniture will stand out not only for design but also for sustainability.”
We Strongly Support Wider Engagement of Our Paper Sector in the Process
Kemer added: “Of our Association’s total exports of 940 million dollars, 575 million dollars come from paper and packaging products. Our paper-packaging sector accounts for 25% of Türkiye’s paper product exports, clearly demonstrating the strong production and export capacity of the sectors under EMKOÜİB. We were delighted to see strong participation from our paper sector in the panel. We attach great importance to encouraging even more companies from this sector to join the process. If we embrace this transformation together, we won’t just achieve EUDR compliance; we will also rise to become a country recognized in the European market for sustainable production.”
EUDR: The New Passport of Trade
Elif Berrak Taşyürek, Head of the Single Market and Green Deal Department at the Ministry of Trade, said: “EUDR is not merely an environmental regulation; it is the new passport of trade. The EU no longer looks solely at design or price; it looks at the coordinates of the forest where the wood was sourced, the carbon footprint, and whether the product contributes to deforestation. As the Ministry, we are both managing legal alignment and creating roadmaps to prepare our industries for this transition. Companies that meet their obligations on time will not only retain access to the EU market, they will also gain a competitive edge as ‘low-risk’ suppliers.”
Digitalized and Traceable Companies Will Access Every Market Worldwide
Metin Ünlü, Head of Certification, Standards and Business Development at the General Directorate of Forestry, said: “Türkiye is one of the rare countries that has increased its forest assets. As the General Directorate of Forestry, we have a dual responsibility: protecting nature while preventing our producers and exporters from being excluded from international markets. We are entering a new era in which companies are responsible for accurately collecting data from the field. While this may appear challenging, let me be clear: if we manage this transformation well, Türkiye can become a global reference point in sustainable forest-based production. Companies that prepare, digitalize, and build traceability infrastructure will be able to ship with confidence not only to the EU but to markets worldwide. The future of our forests and the future of our exports must now be discussed at the same table. That is why this panel is not merely a regulatory briefing; it is the beginning of Türkiye’s sustainable production vision.”
The panel drew strong engagement from industry representatives, academics, exporters, logistics companies, and public officials.
Questions from participants focused on the implementation timeline, the digital data system, the validity of certifications, and financing models.