ECOWOOX: European certification for wooden packaging

ECOWOOX® is a European certification from FEDEMCO, managed by AIDIMME, which accredits the recyclability of wooden packaging following the standards set in EN 13427, EN 13428, EN 13429, EN 13430 y EN 13431.

The technical regulation of this certification has been designed to achieve the requirements of the national and European laws in packaging and packaging waste, for which the manufacturers shall certify to the producers, consumers, and recyclers that they comply with the requirements of the manufacturing and the composition of recyclable packaging and reusable packaging, including the viability of energy recovery.

WHICH COMPANIES CAN BE CERTIFIED?

All wooden packaging manufacturing companies that comply with the following REQUIREMENTS:

✓    To be registered with NACE code number 1624,

✓    If applicable, to be registered in the national Health/Food Safety authorities,

✓    To declare via statement of compliance the fulfillment of the Best Available Techniques by FEDEMCO or the respective National Association.

NATIONAL WOOD PACKAGING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATIONS AND SELECTED TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTES CAN OBTAIN THE FEDEMCO LICENSE TO CERTIFY MANUFACTURERS IN EACH MEMBER STATE

HOW TO START WITH THE PROCEDURE?

Sending the request  to   medioambiente@fedemco.com  and  fulfilling  the  previous requirements. The  technical department will assist with any request.

WHO MANAGES THE CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE?

AIDIMME – Metalworking, Furniture, Wood, Packaging and Related Technological Institute manages and assists to all companies to obtain the certification.

THE CERTIFICATION SCHEME

In the Iberian Peninsula, FEDEMCO is the owner of the ECOWOOX® certification and AIDIMME is the Technical Institute to certificate the companies. For the rest of Europe, FEDEMCO is going to share the certification mark with its European homologues, which are the following:

✓    France: SIEL-FNB

✓    Germany: GROW Verein für umweltfreundliche Holzverpackungen e.V.

✓    Italy: FEDERLEGNOArredo

Moreover, a technical partner will be selected in every Member State to certificate companies. AIDIMME will teach and validate every technical partner before starting to work on the certification. The features that the technical partners must have are the following:

✓    Knowledge of the wooden packaging sector

✓    Technical knowledge on the ECOWOOX® Regulation

✓    Knowledge of the involved European standards

✓    Knowledge of the wooden packaging companies

✓    Technical capacity to develop that role

After an ECOWOOX® regulation training course, they will be able to certificate new companies in its country. They will be always supported by AIDIMME.

WHAT  IS  THE  COST  OF  OBTAINING  THE  ECOWOOX®  CERTIFICATION  AND  WHAT  ARE  THE  MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS?

Each national association will agree the cost of obtaining the certification with the respective technical partner.

The certified company must submit an annual declaration regarding the absence of changes in any certified product and pay the annual fee for maintenance.

Once  granted  the  ECOWOOX®  certification,  the  incorporation  of  product  lines  or  new  suppliers  (destined  to manufacturing certificated packaging) will be notified to the respective technical partner.

Tests of raw materials or supplies will be on behalf of the applicant company or on the supplier’s behalf, to facilitate all the documentation that brings to the fore the criteria demanded by the technical regulation of ECOWOOX®. These tests are not included in the certification price.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

During the process of certification, the Technological Institute will assist the applicant companies:

✓    Technical training related to the certification.

✓    Technical assistance with questions about the certification requirements.

✓    Training the suppliers regarding the tests.

Once passed the certification process, companies will be provided with the following benefits:

✓    ECOWOOX® certification and QR code supported on AIDIMME’s web page.

✓    Technical assistance regarding the scope and maintenance of the certification.

✓    ECOWOOX® certification’s style manual regarding its logo.

✓    The right to use the certification ECOWOOX® in the company’s product sheet and commercial communications.

WHEN DOES THE CERTIFICATION EXPIRE?

The certification has an expiration of  5 years since the concerssion  as long as the applicant company still fulfils the annual certification requirements.

NOTE: This document is merely informative and has no contractual or obligational nature.