On the last 19th October a combined press conference was held, during the Sicam of Pordenone.  It involved Assopannelli, national Association of the producers of panels and semi-products in wood and the European Panel Federation (EPF) European federation that gathers the associations of 25 Countries and it represents over 5.000 companies of the Old Continent.   The president of Assopannelli, Nicoletta Azzi, underlined the key points which see in the front row the Italian industries of the wood-base panel, busy on the availability and exploitation of the Italian raw material, essential point when we talk about circular economy and drop-down use of wood. She made therefore an appeal to institutions in order to sustain and to stimulate the development of the poplar growing, which represents for Italy the most meaningful internal source of lumber for industry. In Italy of “beautiful and well done“, the cultivation and the transformation of the wood raw material develops a fundamental role. If we analyse the furniture and furnishing industry made in Italy, it results evident how the Italian poplar growing and the industry of transformation and  recycle connected to it, it represents one of the productive and environmental excellences of our countrywide system. “Our products respect a virtuous and environmentally friendly cycle “ Nicoletta Azzi explained. “The Assopannelli industries are rooted in the territory, with products of excellence in constant growth they enter in their own right in the circular economy “ produce, consume, recover“, representing a green value totally Italian. Our industries represent the starting point of this way, that we would want validated and supported both to National and European level.“ Paolo Fantoni, President EPF, illustrated in detail an interesting multilevel action, ambitious and structured, denominated “Epf for Africa.“ A project which has seen the proactive support of the companies of Assopannelli, and which foresees the normative updating of normative African qualified technicians through courses and seminars in Italy and Europe. A real seminar, composed of a series of visits both business and entrepreneurial, and from a training course near the laboratory of national search (CATAS).   The aim of EPF, Fantoni concluded, it is “to intensify the dialogue with the African delegates, so that they are able to understand the logics and the structures necessary to develop a certain type of process of quality, subsequently equipping itself with an internal organization able to test products according to parameters and standards already regulated in Europe.“ Concerning certifications, it is interesting the intervention of the engineer Angelo Speranza, managing director of Catas. Catas is considered today the greatest Italian and European institute in the wood and furnishing sector, a center of search that has the goal to promote the technological development of industries of the wood-furnishing sector.