EU delays 2027 ban on wood-burning fireplaces

The European Commission proposes banning polluting and harmful heating systems, such as wood-burning stoves, by 2027. Still, the proposal is encountering resistance in countries like Germany and the Czech Republic.

A draft law was due to be presented in Brussels on February 12th. The law would impose more stringent limits on harmful particulate emissions from wood-fired boilers and heaters from 2027. That plan has been delayed, with the meeting postponed due to “more technical work needed,” as a Commission spokesperson put it.

What do the current directives say?

The European Ecodesign 2022 directive has set strict requirements for wood and pellet stoves since January 1st, 2022.

This regulation aims to improve the energy efficiency of heating appliances and reduce pollutant emissions, such as fine particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The goal is clear: to ensure optimal environmental performance while enhancing air quality.

Widespread phenomenon

Burning wood for heating is still widespread in Eastern countries and our regions. In recent years, wood-burning stoves have even been advertised, mainly to control one’s energy bill, in a context that remains tense after the crises of 2021 and 2022.

In Belgium, 22% of households heat their homes partly or entirely with a wood or pellet stove. Some do so to save on their energy bill (73%), for comfort (36%), or to keep control of their energy expenses (23%),” we read in a recent study conducted by the Belgian Wood Energy Federation (Febhel).

Health risks

The federation’s point of view on the impact of firewood on the climate is different. “While bans on oil heating are gradually becoming widespread across the country’s three regions, we remember that wood constitutes our primary source of renewable energy and a pillar of our energy independence.”

However, this form of heating carries health risks. “Consumers should know that an open fire generates significant quantities of fine particles.,” indicates Jean-François Sidler, president of Febhel.

Particulate matter from wood burning is often microscopic. The smaller the particles, the more harmful they are, as they can penetrate deeper into the lungs. In 2023, Statistiek Vlaanderen, the Flemish governmental agency network that develops statistics, concluded that Flemish citizens lose fifteen months of healthy life due to exposure to fine particles in the air.

Significant educational work remains to be done among the population. The political world must play an essential role in this. Sidler concludes that public authorities should, for example, abolish open fires and call for the renewal of the wood stove stock.

Utrecht

The city of Utrecht, in the Netherlands, has been warning residents not to light wood fires. “Wood smoke is unhealthy for everyone,” the city argues.

In 2030, Utrecht will officially ban burning wood in fireplaces, stoves, and other wood-burning appliances within urban areas. The measure is prompted by growing concerns about air pollution and its effects on public health.

In densely populated areas like Utrecht, wood smoke causes a significant rise in particulate matter during winter, which, according to research, can lead to respiratory problems for vulnerable groups like older people and children.​

Earlier, the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam organized information campaigns to raise awareness of the effects of open fires, pellet and wood-burning stoves, and fire baskets on air quality and health.

Vascular and lung diseases

Wood smoke releases harmful substances into the air, such as particulate matter. Almost 25% of particulate matter emissions into the air are caused by wood burning. Particulate matter from smoke settles deep in your lungs. Wood smoke can even cause asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, and vascular diseases.

For many households, this means finding an alternative to their current wood stove or open fireplace. The city is exploring providing subsidies for removing existing fireplaces and purchasing electric or bio-ethanol fireplaces to encourage residents to transition to eco-friendly options without harmful emissions.