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Furniture and wood-based articles placed on the EU market will have to meet a formaldehyde emission limit of 0.062 mg/m³ after 6 August 2026 under Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464. Source: Fordaq The regulation amends Annex XVII of REACH by adding Entry 77 for formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances. Under the new entry, articles may not be placed on the EU market after 6 August 2026 if, under the specified test conditions, the concentration of formaldehyde released from those articles exceeds 0.062 mg/m³ for furniture and wood-based articles. For articles other than furniture and wood-based articles, the limit is 0.080 mg/m³. The European Commission states that formaldehyde-based resins are used in the production of a wide variety of articles and that their primary use is in wood-based panels, where they act as a bonding agent for wood particles. The regulation also refers to other wood-based products, including furniture and flooring. In the regulation, the Commission says wood-based panels, articles made of wood-based panels or other wood-based articles, and furniture containing wood or other materials are among the main sources of formaldehyde emissions in indoor air where formaldehyde other than naturally occurring formaldehyde is used during production. Appendix 14 sets the reference conditions for measuring formaldehyde released into indoor air from covered articles. The regulation specifies test chamber conditions including a temperature of 23 ± 0.5°C, relative humidity of 45 ± 3%, a loading factor of 1 ± 0.02 m²/m³ and an air exchange rate of 1 ± 0.05 h-1. The steady-state concentration measured in the test chamber is used to verify compliance with the formaldehyde limit. The restriction does not apply to articles in which formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances are exclusively naturally present in the materials from which the articles are produced. The regulation also lists exemptions for articles exclusively for outdoor use, certain construction articles used outside the building shell and vapour barrier, articles exclusively for industrial or professional use unless they lead to exposure of the general public, food-contact articles, and second-hand articles.

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Metsa has opened a new packaging design studio in Milan, Italy to accelerate packaging development especially in its key European markets. The new studio enables earlier and closer collaboration between Metsä Board and its customers, allowing joint testing and refinement to bring real-world-ready packaging solutions faster. Source: Timberbiz Packaging is no longer just about protection and logistics. Brands are under increasing pressure to reduce material use, replace fossil-based materials, meet tightening regulations and still deliver strong shelf impact. At the same time, expectations for speed have fundamentally changed: solutions must be developed faster, with greater certainty around performance, recyclability and compliance. Metsä Board is addressing this shift with this new design studio in Milan bringing together design, material expertise and data-driven insights. It enables customers to develop packaging solutions that are more efficient and fit to their requirements. “Milan offers a unique combination of a strong packaging ecosystem and a world-class design environment. Being there allows us to work more closely with our customers and strengthen collaboration across key European markets,” said Erja Hyrsky, SVP Commercial Operations. By combining AI-supported design, simulation possibilities and material expertise, solutions can be explored and tested much earlier in the process, reducing uncertainty, accelerating decision-making and shortening development cycles. “Our customers don’t just need new packaging ideas – they need solutions that are validated for actual use conditions, and they need them faster than ever. By combining design, materials and data, we can move from concept to validated solution much earlier, with greater confidence,” said Erja Hyrsky. The Milan studio is built for a new way of working. Instead of sequential development, design, materials and performance are advanced in parallel, making it possible to improve material efficiency while maintaining performance requirements. “Instead of developing solutions in isolation, we can test and refine them together, making sure they are ready for market introduction much earlier,” said Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director. “For brands in segments such as food, pharma and beauty, where packaging plays a critical role both functionally and commercially, this integrated approach is becoming essential.”

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