EcoSquare Consulting and Sustainability Engineering is currently running a focused pilot programme with two SAFI member manufacturers to help them prepare for the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) taking effect in 2026. Although South Africa is considered low-risk for deforestation due to its reliance on sustainablyfarmed timber, local timber products destined for the EU must still demonstrate full compliance.
Manuel Lorenz of EcoSquare Consulting explains that the pilot is centred on deep supply-chain verification. “We are tracing each component back to a legal Harvest Permit and its exact geolocation,” he says. “Our job is to check the entire chain of custody, make sure there are no gaps in traceability, and cross-reference geo locations with the South African Biodiversity Institute’s mapping data.”
The pilot, initiated in September 2025, is designed to establish compliant supply chains that other SAFI members can later use with confidence. “Working at an association level brings a big advantage,” Lorenz notes. “It streamlines the process for individual companies and means the broader industry can benefit from the insights and validated chains we develop.”
However, recent uncertainty surrounding proposed EUDR amendments led to parts of the pilot being temporarily paused while EcoSquare awaited clearer guidance on enforcement timelines. “The regulatory landscape is shifting, but the fundamentals haven’t changed,” Lorenz says. “South Africa’s low-risk status remains intact, and that continues to support smoother access to the EU market once enforcement begins.”
Although final decisions from the EU are expected only by mid-December, the core obligations remain: wood-based products (as one out of seven listed commodities) must be deforestationfree, legally harvested, and traceable to plot level.
For SAFI members planning to export, this pilot offers early clarity, practical learnings, and a valuable foundation for compliance – positioning the sector strongly as the EUDR era approaches.
