E0, E1, CARB like certifications for the wood panel industry in India are also going to be necessary. Although the government authority has not issued such guidelines, these are becoming most important for end users. This is because wherever wood panel industry products are being used, the hazardous chemical emissions are there.
The industries are taking it a concern and going for certification because the end consumers are getting affected by hazardous chemicals. After the Greenply initiative and campaign of E0 plywood, the people are getting aware. In fact testing agencies are getting direct calls enquiring about these certifications and facilities available. Earlier such awareness was not there in the market.
Mr Pramod Gupta, Director, Sustainable Stewardship Pvt Ltd talking to the Ply Reporter on the requirement of certifications and its future in the wood panel industry said, “BIS has also issued a notification regarding changes happening in IS standards. They include requirements of E0, E1, E2 compliance for MDF for issuing standards to it.
“These are mandatory for exporting material. In the same way like fssai is the prime requirement for packaged food items. The importers of other countries have legal requirements of CARB certification for MDF, Particle Board and Plywood. Even for the finished products the material compliance is a must. So, indirectly it is mandatory for India also,” he added.
Around 15 to 20 companies are already certified with CARB like Century Ply, Greenply, Greenpanel, Action Tesa, Vidya Ply, Realply, etc and many more are in process to get it. Those who are CARB compliant are already E0 compliant because the CARB emissions are lower than E0. Report hints that everyone has to do it mandatory; there is no escape because BIS is coming up with norms for every wood panel products.