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Certified materials are shaping the direction of contemporary fashion and influencing consumer decisions. A collaboration with emerging Hong Kong designer vicKie AU introduced the first FSC-certified capsule collection, placing sustainability at the core of design. Source: Timberbiz The collection was recently awarded Gold in Women’s Prêt-à-Porter at the International Design Awards (IDA) in Oslo. “Tranquility: Nature in Modernity is more than a collection. Using FSC-certified sustainable fabrics, it demonstrates how thoughtful design choices can drive real change. True elegance starts with responsibility, and every material decision connects us back to the forest,” Ms Au said. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is collaborating with Ms Au of V Visionary Design Studio (FSC-N004591), unveiling the first-ever FSC-certified capsule collection made entirely from sustainably sourced materials from responsibly managed forests. This groundbreaking initiative addresses a critical issue in the fashion industry, where nearly 50% of all forest-based fibres – like rayon, viscose, modal and lyocell – come from uncertified and irresponsibly managed sources, which contributes to deforestation, illegal logging, and biodiversity loss. The FSC x V.VISSI Collection showcases a revolutionary approach to fashion, proving that style and sustainability can coexist harmoniously. Designed under the theme “From Deforestation to Coexistence with Forests,” each garment in this capsule collection is crafted using FSC-certified materials throughout the entire production process. From fibres to final production, the collection represents a complete supply chain of responsible sourcing from an elite collective of FSC-certified Chain of Custody (CoC ) companies, including yarn from Eastman Chemical Company (FSC-C140711) and Grasim Industries Limited, Unit-Indian Rayon (FSC-C151684), fabrics from Shinjintex Co. Ltd. (FSC-C194015) and BRUNELLO S.p.A. (FSC-C136496) , and production by High Fashion (China) Co. Ltd. (FSC-C165230). “Through this collection, I aim to inspire stakeholders and consumers to recognize that choosing garments produced in line with FSC standards isn’t just a fashion statement—it’s a commitment to a healthier planet. By infusing sustainability into our wardrobe choices, we’re not only adding fresh value to fashion but also cultivating a deeper awareness of our environmental impact,” Ms Au said. This collaboration is part of FSC’s broader “Fashion Forever Green Pact,” an initiative aimed at offering alternatives to fast fashion and promoting the transition to sustainable practices. To date, approximately 50 brands and supply chains have joined the pact, including all companies involved in this latest collection. Cindy Cheng, Regional Director of FSC APAC, emphasized the significance of this project: “We’re grateful to all the stakeholders who helped bring this capsule collection to life. This isn’t just about crafting beautiful garments; it’s about revolutionizing the fashion industry through responsible sourcing. The momentum we’ve created here will expand our mission beyond APAC, inspiring global change in how we approach fashion and sustainability.” The FSC x V.VISSI Collection represents a significant step towards a more sustainable fashion industry, demonstrating that responsible sourcing can be both stylish and impactful. By choosing FSC-certified clothing, consumers can actively contribute to forest conservation and support a future where fashion and nature thrive in harmony.    

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Hubtex has launched two new electric multidirectional sideloaders: the MSL 50 and the MAXX 50. For timber merchants, sawmills or prefabricated house builders, Hubtex offers tailor-made solutions for the specific requirements of the industry. Source: Timberbiz With the new MSL 50, the Hubtex product line has received a robust outdoor upgrade. The new electric multidirectional sideloader, with a load capacity of 11,000 lbs, is equipped with a specially developed SL cabin (sideloader cabin) and is optimized for longer transport distances outdoors. The ergonomic seating position in the direction of travel reduces strain on the driver, ensuring maximum comfort – particularly over longer distances. Thanks to the low-set front window, the route remains in view at all times, while the generous side window provides an optimal view of the load being transported. The new MSL 50 is particularly suitable for companies with large outdoor areas, such as lumber merchants or sawmills. Hubtex has also expanded its portfolio with the addition of a powerful 5-tonne model, the MAXX 50. Like all models in the MAXX series, it is designed for combined indoor and outdoor use, making it ideal for use in narrow warehouse aisles as well as for loading and unloading trucks outdoors. “The MAXX 50 is ideally suited to the needs of wood processing companies and lumber dealers,” said Hans-Joachim Finger, General Manager of Hubtex. “It offers increased residual load capacity, which is particularly essential for transporting heavy or damp timber.” The new MAXX 50 includes an ergonomic cabin, a lift mast precisely tailored to the load capacity, and the optionally available 360° HX steering. With a ground clearance of 7.3 inches and a load arm height of 21.1 inches, it offers the optimum trade-off between maximum utilisation of storage space and high flexibility outdoors. A powerful 5-kW electric motor ensures good performance – even on inclines. Hubtex has also expanded its portfolio with the addition of a powerful 5-tonne model, the MAXX 50. Like all models in the MAXX series, it is designed for combined indoor and outdoor use, making it ideal for use in narrow warehouse aisles as well as for loading and unloading trucks outdoors. “The MAXX 50 is ideally suited to the needs of wood processing companies and lumber dealers,” MR Finger said. “It offers increased residual load capacity, which is particularly essential for transporting heavy or damp timber.” The new MAXX 50 includes an ergonomic cabin, a lift mast precisely tailored to the load capacity, and the optionally available 360° HX steering. With a ground clearance of 7.3 inches and a load arm height of 21.1 inches, it offers the optimum trade-off between maximum utilisation of storage space and high flexibility outdoors. A powerful 5-kW electric motor ensures good performance – even on inclines.  

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After a sharp decrease in 2023, felling in Swedish forests continued to decrease in 2024, according to preliminary statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. Not since 2013 has annual felling been lower. Source: Timberbiz The trend of higher harvesting levels was broken in 2023, and preliminary statistics now show that the decrease continued in 2024. The decrease has meant that the Swedish forest industry’s imports of roundwood have increased, according to Jonas Paulsson, statistician at the Swedish Forest Agency. Record fellings were recorded in 2021 and 2022, excluding 2005 and 2007 when fellings were very high due to storms Gudrun and Per. The trend of high felling levels was broken in 2023 with reduced felling. The reduction continued in 2024. According to the Swedish Forest Agency’s preliminary statistics, gross felling in 2024 amounted to 87.1 million cubic meters of forest. This is a decrease of 2% compared with 2023, when felling amounted to 88.9 million cubic meters of forest. Net felling, which constitutes the harvested volume of all tree trunks that are fully or partially recovered, amounted to 70.3 million cubic meters in 2024. Just under half of the net felling consisted of softwood sawn timber, 43% of pulpwood and 8% of firewood. Compared with 2023, the harvesting of softwood sawlogs is estimated to have been relatively unchanged, while the harvesting of pulpwood has decreased by 4%. The harvesting of firewood was 3% lower compared with 2023. In Svealand, felling decreased by 6% in 2024 and in Götaland by 3%. In Northern Norrland, felling was unchanged while it increased by 4% in Southern Norrland. Västra Götaland was the county with the most felling in 2024, with 8.1 million cubic meters of forest. This corresponded to 9% of the total felling in the country. Felling was also high in Värmland County, where 7.8 million cubic meters of forest were felled. Just over 1% of Swedish logging was exported in 2024. Exports decreased in 2024, from 1.3 million cubic meters in 2023 to a preliminary 0.9 million cubic meters in 2024. In 2024, imports of roundwood were provisionally 9.2 million cubic meters, which is around 1.9 million cubic meters more than the previous year. Imports increased from the Baltic countries, Norway and Poland, while they decreased from Finland.  

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A comprehensive new review published in the Journal of Stored Products Research warns that although phosphine (PH₃) continues to be registered as a generic phytosanitary treatment for timber, including by major importers such as China and India, global research data overwhelmingly concludes that it is not effective and should not be used for wood products. This is alarming as, despite the clear evidence that phosphine is not appropriate for use as a broad-spectrum treatment for wood, it has been successfully approved as a treatment for exported logs as recently as 2018. Source: Timberbiz In the first fully comprehensive study on phosphine’s efficacy, the review analysed a total of 41 studies from the late 1980s through to 2023. Among other aspects, the paper summarises the history of phosphine use, describes its mode of action, application conditions and treatment limitations, and provides an exhaustive biography of all relevant scientific literature on the subject. One of the authors of the study, Dr Matthew Hall, is an academic at Charles Darwin University in Australia and also Head of Phytosanitary and Market Access Affairs for the International Treatment Solutions (INTRESO) Group. “Despite phosphine’s successful track record as a grain fumigant, there is a conclusive absence of data to support a sufficient degree of its effectiveness against a full range of pests including insects, nematodes, and fungi, when it comes to wood products,” he said. “While the urgent need to phase out methyl bromide from use on wood products has meant regulators are looking for ready alternatives, there is a clear scientific consensus that phosphine is not an appropriate option. “This study not only shows that there is ample evidence available that phosphine does not work on wood, but that even limited use creates real-world risks to biosecurity and has already led to irreversible invasive species migration. With alternative solutions backed up by comprehensive efficacy data, regulators must reject complacency in assessing legacy products and instead follow the evidence.” The study conducts an in-depth analysis of research and evidence of phosphine’s efficacy as a phytosanitary treatment for wood products. Its conclusions are unequivocal, and the implications are deeply troubling given that phosphine is still registered as a fumigant for wood products in several countries and is accepted by a number of countries as a phytosanitary measure, potentially threatening their own biodiversity and ecosystems. Historically, phosphine has been seen interchangeably with methyl bromide, a fumigant widely used in the agricultural industry. It is particularly effective in treating grains, where it remains the primary fumigant. Following the international ban on most uses of the ozone-depleting methyl bromide two decades ago, including for treatment of wood, phosphine emerged as one of the chemical alternatives helped by its ready approvals for generic fumigation. As part of this legacy, many countries readily accept phosphine-treated wood products, including major markets such as China, Malaysia, Mongolia, Paraguay and India. Tellingly, although they are happy to treat their wood exports with phosphine, none of the USA, Australia, Canada, nor New Zealand accept any wood products treated with phosphine themselves, calling into question their own trust in phosphine as an effective treatment option. The authors suggest that despite regulatory permissiveness, the professional industry remains doubtful and that, in most cases, phosphine is not used as an industry default for large-scale wood product treatment. Nevertheless, even this limited use has already had disastrous consequences. The study highlights a well-documented case where the ineffective phosphine treatment has resulted in the permanent establishment of the Golden-Haired Bark Beetle, a critical forestry pest that has been transmitted from infested New Zealand wood to China. After reviewing the existing research, it became clear that there is an absence of scientific data to prove phosphine has a high degree of effectiveness against a full range of pests, including insects, nematodes, and fungi. Despite this absence of evidence, phosphine has been successfully approved for logs exported from Uruguay to China as recently as 2018. The research additionally notes there is no accepted phosphine treatment standard under ISPM 28, the international standard for controlling pests in international trade. The paper details an attempt to register phosphine as a treatment for wood under this internationally agreed standard that failed due to a lack of evidence showing its effectiveness against a broader range of pests.

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Australia and New Zealand’s changing climate patterns are leading to more volatile fire behaviour, spurring continued focus on bushfire preparedness to combat hotter, drier conditions. Source: Timberbiz In late 2024, the Australian Government committed $35 million over two years to the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) to respond to a wider range of emergencies, enhance the National Emergency Management Stockpile, and deliver a national preparedness program to reduce potential harm to the community.(1) Government support continued with the Australian Government committing $28.8 million to disaster preparedness in the 2025-2026 Federal Budget, including $17.7 million for the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Program.(2) In New Zealand, the government has committed $70 million over seven years (2024–2031) to the Natural Hazards and Resilience Platform, an initiative designed to strengthen national resilience to natural disasters by supporting science across the four Rs: reduction, readiness, response, and recovery.(3) The platform underpins New Zealand’s Disaster Resilience Strategy and focuses on building a more resilient future through collaborative research and innovation. Australia and New Zealand’s bushfire detection has historically relied heavily on human observation, aerial surveillance, and satellite imagery. These traditional methods depend on visible smoke or flame and are no longer sufficient to meet the growing threat. Delays in identification are common, particularly in remote or heavily forested areas. Both countries face similar challenges, with increasing fire risk and difficult terrain adding complexity to early detection and intervention. Bushfires have become more intense and unpredictable, making early detection and rapid response critical to protecting communities, ecosystems, and critical infrastructure. A national push towards artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions is now underway to deliver faster, more accurate detection and outpace catastrophic fires, according to Dryad Networks. “AI is reshaping Australia and New Zealand’s bushfire response by interpreting chemical markers, minor heat shifts, and environmental anomalies that would otherwise evade traditional monitoring,” Sohan Domingo, VP of Sales, Technology, and Operations, Dryad Networks, said “AI systems process data from a wide range of sources, including sensors, satellites, and atmospheric trackers to detect ignition risks before visible fires develop, helping emergency services deploy earlier and more precisely.” This AI-led evolution represents a fundamental shift from reactive firefighting to proactive risk identification. AI-powered sensor networks installed across bushlands and national parks can detect smoke and heat signatures at the smouldering stage, well before flames are visible. Their alerts are linked to predictive modelling tools that map potential fire spread, giving authorities critical lead time to coordinate ground response, aerial support, and evacuation measures. The ability to intervene at the first indication of ignition is essential to achieve the speed and precision needed to protect lives and assets as bushfire seasons lengthen and intensify. “AI technologies identify ignition points and simulate the likely movement of fires using advanced forecasting models,” Mr Domingo said. “This considers terrain, fuel loads, live weather conditions, and historical fire behaviour patterns for faster decision-making about asset protection, community warnings, and firefighting strategies.” Autonomous drones equipped with AI technology further strengthen Australia and New Zealand’s bushfire response. Drones can be dispatched instantly to verify alerts, map fire perimeters, and assess real-time conditions from above without placing human crews in danger. The integration of machine learning (ML) lets drones interpret their findings autonomously, minimising critical delays. Drones in future deployments could also be equipped with suppression tools such as foam dispensers or acoustic fire suppression technology, extending their role from surveillance to direct fire mitigation. “The environmental dividends of AI-powered early detection are clear. Stopping fires before they escalate lets ecosystems recover faster, minimises biodiversity loss, and avoids major carbon release events, supporting Australia and New Zealand’s emissions reduction and adaptation goals,” Mr Domingo said. “AI platforms feed sensor alerts, satellite data, and drone observations into shared dashboards for real-time situational awareness in emergency coordination centres. This connected approach supports faster multi-agency mobilisation and resource prioritisation during critical incidents.” Adapting AI for bushfire prevention requires local expertise and community involvement. Tailoring AI models to reflect Australia and New Zealand’s diverse terrains and leveraging Indigenous knowledge of traditional land and fire management practices can make detection technologies even more effective. Local participation creates AI deployments that are technologically advanced, culturally sensitive, and environmentally appropriate. Embedding AI into every stage of bushfire prevention redefines the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of Australasia’s emergency management capabilities from ignition detection to response coordination. “Continued investment in AI-powered detection, autonomous response, and post-fire ecosystem monitoring is critical to strengthening Australia and New Zealand’s disaster resilience. Expanding collaboration between government, research bodies, and traditional land managers will further enhance the relevance and effectiveness of these emerging technologies,” Mr Domingo said. References: (1) https://www.nema.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/media-release-summer-bushfire-outlook-reminder-plan-all-hazards (2) https://budget.gov.au/ (3) https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/funding-information-and-opportunities/investment-funds/strategic-science-investment-fund/ssif-funded-programmes/natural-hazards-and-resilience-platform  

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New Zealand exporters sending wood or beef and leather products to the European Union (EU) will soon have to comply with new rules that aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. Source: RNZ New Zealand government officials and industry opposed the approach to anti-deforestation taken by the incoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), due to increased compliance costs exporters will face in proving their products have not contributed to the loss of trees. However, the European Commission was standing firm that imports of certain commodities had their part to play in addressing challenges related to deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss. A European Commission spokesperson said the EUDR covered seven key commodities, namely cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood. “These commodities have been chosen on the basis of a thorough impact assessment identifying them as the main driver of deforestation due to agricultural expansion,” they said. Deforestation was defined as converting forests to land for agricultural use. For New Zealand, this will affect the $213 million export trade of beef and leather exports into the EU, with new rules coming into force this December. Exporters of wood products – a trade to Europe valued at around $100m – would be required to provide traceability processes to show that their products did not contribute to deforestation too. Products that do not meet the new import requirements will be rejected at the border. In recent months, the European Commission released further clarifications about the rules for operators and traders. A spokesperson said it found New Zealand to be a country with “low risk of deforestation”. “Sourcing from low-risk countries entails simplified due diligence obligations for operators and traders,” the spokesperson said. “Concretely, this means that they need to collect information but not assess and mitigate risks.” It also announced a 12-month phase-in for the new regime in December 2024, a year’s delay after the original enforcement date to give operators time to prepare, they said. “Given the EUDR’s novel character, the swift calendar, and the variety of international stakeholders involved, a 12-month additional time to phase in the system is a balanced solution to support operators around the world in securing a smooth implementation from the start,” they said. “This is essential to guarantee certainty about the way forward and to ensure the success of the EUDR.” The Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association chief executive Mark Ross said a working group with forest growers, wood processors and the government had been set up to work through some issues relating to the new requirement, like geolocation requirements. He said, overall, companies were “reasonably confident” they would be in a good position to meet the requirements. “At first glance the EUDR appears complex, but the best way to overcome any risks associated with the legislation and to ensure that our wood product exporters remain compliant, is for the forestry and wood processing industries to continue to work closely together on fulfilling the EUDR requirements,” said Ross. “By taking the necessary steps to comply with EUDR, the New Zealand wood products industry can gain a market advantage in Europe and globally, which will further enhance our positive sustainable forestry and wood products reputation.” However, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Trade and Investment Todd McClay wrote to the European Commission early last year, urging it to exclude New Zealand and the pastoral farming system from the regulation, among other bilateral efforts. “Without changes, this regulation risks making it too costly for many of our exporters to continue supplying the EU market, affecting over $200 million in Kiwi exports at a time when we should be growing this trade through the benefits of the NZ-EU Trade Agreement, not facing additional barriers,” said McClay in October. “New Zealand does not have a deforestation issue, and while we share the EU’s goals of promoting deforestation-free products, we already have stringent domestic protections in place. Imposing these compliance costs on our exporters is not justified.” Industry group Beef and Lamb New Zealand helped successfully lobby for the exclusion of sheepmeat with its British counterparts, the UK National Sheep Association, but senior trade policy advisor Nicholas Jolly said in May last year, it should also extent to beef. He said diverting products from the EU to other markets would significantly “devalue New Zealand’s trade”. “The loss in beef exports would begin at approximately $98 million annually, while the impact on leather exports would also be substantial, considering 45 percent of New Zealand’s leather exports by value go directly to the EU and it would be extremely difficult to find alternative markets.” Beef and Lamb New Zealand declined to comment further at the time of publish. Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association (MIA), said the deforestation regulation was “unlikely” to tackle global deforestation, as it was “poorly designed and poorly drafted”. She said New Zealand already had strict environmental regulations with enforceable penalties for negatively impacting native vegetation. “New Zealand beef exports are backed by world-leading sustainability credentials and should be treated differently to products from countries where deforestation is a genuine concern,” she said. Karapeeva said it was working closely with officials to advocate for a “more pragmatic and sensible solution” that recognised New Zealand’s trend of afforestation. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the costs imposed on exporters were disproportionate to the risk that the product was actually linked to deforestation. “New Zealand shares the European Union’s objective of addressing global deforestation but has consistently raised concerns with the approach taken in the EU Deforestation Regulation.” It also encouraged the Commission to address these concerns through the relevant committees of the New Zealand/EU Free Trade Agreement. Large exporters had to comply with the new rules by 30 December, 2025 and June 2026 for smaller-sized exporters. Ministry for Primary Industries’ Bilateral Relations & Trade divisional manager Steve Ainsworth said it was continuing to liaise with beef and forestry sectors about the requirements. “MPI and MFAT have maintained an open […]

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