According to the JRC Report Best Available Techniques the European Wood preservation industry. Figures and facts from 2017.1
Europe’s wood preserving industry supplies around 6.5 million m3 of pressure treated wood per year for woodworking, construction, landscaping, leisure wood, agriculture, marine, railway, telecommunication, electricity generation and distribution applications.
Distribution of applications
44 % of the production (of pressure-treated wood) is used as construction timber, 21 % as garden timber, 15 % as small roundwood, 14 % as poles and 6 % as sleepers.
Distribution by preservative type
In total, 71 % of the wood is treated with water-based preservatives, 11 % with creosote, mainly poles and sleepers, and 18 % with solvent-based preservatives, mainly construction timber such as window and door joinery.
Creosote impregnation is generally declining due to regulations on creosote use and because of new non-wooden products, e.g. the use of concrete sleepers for new railway lines. In the case of poles, however, an increased use of creosote in impregnation has been reported in Europe. A significant share of this is exported to countries outside the EU.
Best Available Techniques (BAT) Document Reference on Surface Treatment Using Organic Solvents including Preservation of Wood and Wood Products with Chemicals
Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU EUR 30475 EN