Despite the suspension of Russian and Belarusian companies and market fluctuations, ENplus, a world-leading quality certification scheme for pellets, maintains growth in certified production in 2023 and remains crucial for global pellet businesses.
The world-leading certification scheme to guarantee high-quality wood pellets, ENplus, reports 13.3 million tonnes of certified pellets were produced in 2022, while certified production in 2023 is projected to surpass 14 million tonnes based on the estimated production figures submitted by all certified producers to the European Pellet Council (EPC).
In 2022, the pellet market was heavily affected by the energy crisis. The pellet prices increased all over Europe and some countries even experienced problems with pellet availability. The ban on imports from Russia and Belarus led to additional disruptions in the supply chain. However, even in such complicated times, both pellet professionals and consumers remained loyal to ENplusand their preference for a quality product, commented Catalina-Elena Dumitru, the scheme’s director.
Continued growth and expansion despite sanctions
Shortly after the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine last year, ENplusManagement suspended the certification of all producers and traders in Russia and Belarus.
These companies were no longer allowed to sell ENplus-certified pellets, nor were applications for certification from these two countries accepted.
The decision reflected upon the total number of certified companies by slowing down the rapid growth observed in the past few years.
Despite the war, the certification scheme reports international expansion with more companies from North America and Asia getting certified.
As of April 2023, ENplusis present in 50 countries around the world with China being the latest one to join the list.
Dealing with fraud
With over 3.5 million tonnes, Germany remains the biggest producer of ENplus-certified pellets in 2022. Austria keeps the runner-up position with a production of 1.5 million tonnes.
Poland, France, Spain, and Belgium complete the top five countries with the biggest production of certified pellets
In the latest survey, we conducted among certified companies, over 80 percent of them share that the ENpluscertification is essential to their business. This also explains the increase in certificate falsifications by non-certified companies we have observed over the last year. Unfortunately, some companies dare to cheat to remain part of the premium market, Catalina-Elena Dumitru remarked.
As of April 2023, more than 950 fraud cases have been identified and solved as part of the scheme fraud management.
Additionally, ENplusManagement keeps an up-to-date blacklist with over 250 fraudulent entitieson the scheme’s website.
In 2022, the revision of the certification scheme was concluded. Currently, all certified companies are taking advantage of the one-year transition period for compliance with the new set of requirements, while the applying companies already get certified against these new requirements and procedures.
