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This report explores how the EU Deforestation Regulation could help reduce the EU’s deforestation, emissions and biodiversity footprint linked to seven forest-risk commodities. Using exploratory scenario analysis, the authors find that the greatest reductions may be achieved when the regulation is combined with wider policy measures that address consumption, production and trade incentives.
Cargo ships at night near Thessaloniki port, illustrating global trade routes linked to EU Deforestation Regulation policy measures.
Photo: Ioannis Xenidis/ Unsplash.
The European Union’s consumption of forest-risk agricultural commodities is linked to deforestation, emissions and biodiversity loss globally. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to reduce this impact by requiring companies to demonstrate that key commodities and products placed on, or exported from, the EU market are deforestation-free and produced in line with relevant laws in the country of production.
Using exploratory scenario analysis, the authors of this report examined how different levels of EUDR implementation could affect the EU’s footprint linked to seven forest-risk commodities: cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy and timber. They also explored the role of wider policy measures linked to sustainable consumption, sustainable production and trade incentives.
The findings suggest that while effective implementation of the EUDR could deliver substantial reductions, the greatest impact may be achieved when it is combined with complementary policy measures. The report highlights the need for a broader policy toolkit, including stronger implementation, more targeted policy packages and knowledge exchange between consuming and producing regions.
This report was produced by Trase, with strategic input from colleagues at SEI, the University of York and Leiden University; and financial support from Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
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