The impact of EU environmental policy on sawmill operations in Poland – a decade in review

Summary

No reviewed summary yet. Read the abstract below or open the original publication.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to assess the impact of EU environmental policy on the activities of Polish sawmill companies in the period 2014-2024.Design/methodology/approach: The study's objective was achieved through a review of Polish and English-language literature on the domestic and international sawmill industry, as well as a statistical analysis of primary data obtained directly from sawmilling companies and secondary data from publicly available online sources.The study examined three sawmilling industry entities during the 2014-2024 research period, producing pulp products (including paper), hardwood and softwood lumber, and mainly wood biomass.Findings: Throughout the study, it was established that the European Union's environmental policy, implemented through policy instruments, did not negatively impact the economic situation of sawmill companies in Poland during the review period.These instruments inadvertently led to investments in green technologies and long-term development.The economic situation of sawmill enterprises is primarily related to market factors. Research limitations/implications:The research was limited by the partial lack of confidential financial data from the surveyed companies and the limited availability of literature describing the state of the Polish sawmill industry during the review period.Future research should include an analysis of the impact of EU environmental policy instruments on the supply of wood raw materials.It could also involve an econometric analysis of the data.Social implications: Sawmill companies operating in the sawmill industry should focus on long-term sustainable development goals, as they not only deliver socially beneficial outcomes but also economic benefits.A lack of patience with the dictates of EU environmental policy can lead to unnecessary conflicts in negotiations with decision-makers and hinder the economic development of the business entity.Originality/value: This article is aimed at entities in the sawmill industry to guide strategic thinking toward social responsibility based on empirical data.Previous studies of the Polish timber industry have not relied on primary data obtained directly from sawmill companies.

Abstract as supplied by the source. Full text may be restricted by the publisher.