The objective of EFORWOOD was to develop a quantitative decision support tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment of the European Forestry-Wood Chain (FWC) and subsets thereof (e.g. regional), covering forestry, industrial manufacturing, consumption and recycling.

The objective was achieved by:

a) defining economic, environmental and social sustainability indicators;

b) developing a tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment by integrating a set of models;

c) supplying the tool with real data, aggregated as needed and appropriate;

d) testing the tool in a stepwise procedure allowing adjustments to be made according to the experiences gained;

e) applying the tool to assess the sustainability of the present European  FWC (and subsets thereof) as well  the impacts  of potential major changes based on scenarios;

f) making the adapted versions of the tool available to stakeholder groupings (industrial, political and others).

The multi-functionality of the FWC was taken into account by using indicators to assess the sustainability of production processes and by including in the analysis the various products and services of the FWC. Wide stakeholder consultations were used throughout the process to reach the objective.

EFORWOOD contributed to EU policies connected to the FWC, especially to the Sustainable Development Strategy. It provided policy-makers, forest owners, the related industries and other stakeholders with a tool to strengthen the forest-based sectors contribution towards a more sustainable Europe, thereby also improving its competitiveness.

To achieve this, EFORWOOD gathered a consortium of highest-class experts, including the most representative forest-based sector confederations.

EFORWOOD addressed with a high degree of relevance the objectives set out in the 3rd call for proposals addressing "Thematic Sub-priority 1.1.6.3 Global Change and Ecosystems, topic V.2.1. Forestry/wood chain for Sustainable Development".