Tougher fire safety regulations, a sluggish market, and skyrocketing log prices—the winds are blowing against the timber construction sector. Yet, industry professionals remain resourceful, as evidenced by the innovations highlighted by BOISmag.

A strained business climate

The timber construction market "was slower at the start of the year. Projects struggled to get off the ground, partly due to bad weather," says Hadrien Nuzillat, Director of the XLAM Solutions plant. "This is often the case at this time of year, but it was more pronounced this time around. As for our clients, competition is fierce when it comes to tenders. Many companies are bidding on the same projects, which puts pressure on pricing."

Another trend is the increasingly prominent presence of general contractors. "They are taking a growing interest in timber construction. The overall construction market is tight. With the RE2020 regulations, more projects are incorporating bio-based materials, so they have no choice but to get involved. Previously, they would partner with specialized firms to bid on contracts. Today, they are increasingly bidding solo, which tends to further increase the number of bids for a single project and, consequently, heighten competition." Meanwhile, traditional firms are seeking to diversify to mitigate the impact of the market downturn. Some timber-frame companies, previously heavily focused on single-family homes, have had to find new market outlets. Nevertheless, "we are seeing signs of recovery, with projects gradually restarting," notes Charly Reignier (Stora Enso, CLT).

Log prices have become "exorbitant"

Market conditions are not the only hurdle; the issue also concerns the resource itself, notes Pierre-Marie Olivares of Gedibois: "Log prices have risen sharply, affecting supply and driving up rates. This penalizes French sawmills and is reflected in costs. We are all subject to the same constraints. Wood remains a global commodity with international market prices. Any supply issue in Scandinavia inevitably impacts France. We are seeing more and more Belgian and German buyers in our forests."

Maxime Huck (Pfeifer Group) confirms: "Forest log prices have risen significantly since late 2025. Consequently, Nordic species—frequently used by French manufacturers of glued-laminated timber—now work out cheaper than French or German timber, despite transport costs. Supply chains are shifting." This trend is considered "both cyclical and structural. The volume of wood available in forests has decreased. Speculation also plays a role. In the medium term, the question of which species to use will arise. Timber construction still relies heavily on spruce and fir, which are increasingly ill-suited to the changing climate."

A transition is already underway "towards other species, notably pine—which, until now, has been used primarily for packaging in our region. In the future, pine and Douglas fir are expected to play a larger role, as they are better suited to current climatic conditions."

"We are seeing signs of recovery, with projects gradually restarting." Charly Reignier (Stora Enso)

Small-scale multi-unit housing and renovation

The single-family home market "is sluggish, and there are doubts about its ability to bounce back," notes Olivier Mognon, Sales Manager at STEICO France. "With the ZAN policy [Zero Net Artificialization], there is a limit to the expansion of this type of housing. However, carpenters are also becoming off-site builders, opening up opportunities in the small-scale multi-unit housing sector. Timber construction is well-suited to this future market." At ISB, Technical and Operations Director Pascal Toussaint observes "a certain dynamism in the renovation sector. We are seeing this in timber framing and facades as well, where there is still room for market growth. However, this is not enough to offset the decline in new construction."

"Timber construction is suffering from the drop in the number of building permits issued," adds Pierre-Marie Olivares of Gedibois. "On the other hand, we are seeing market share gains in refurbishment work (+9%), driven by energy-efficiency renovations. While the start of 2026 was difficult in the first quarter due to bad weather delaying construction sites, activity has picked up again since the beginning of April."

"Many companies are bidding on the same projects, which puts pressure on price levels." — Hadrien Nuzillat (XLAM Solutions)

How client demands are evolving

According to Charly Reignier, "client demands are evolving around three key issues: building faster, creating buildings with better environmental performance—thanks to the use of bio-based materials and a reduced carbon footprint—while remaining economically competitive." In this regard, Stora Enso, which specializes in CLT construction engineering, provides "prefabricated components and millimeter-level precision. We meet the demand for greater speed (up to 30–40% faster, with rapid installation) and superior environmental performance (CLT stores biogenic carbon over the long term, as evidenced by Environmental Product Declarations). Furthermore, the development of the CLT industrial sector is enabling us to achieve economic efficiency. Major developers like WO2 and Altaréa are proving that timber construction can be carried out at a cost equivalent to conventional methods," he asserts.

Olivier Mognon, Sales Manager at STEICO France, notes "a trend toward industrial prefabrication, involving the off-site construction of 2D wall panels. We are also beginning to see the emergence of 3D construction, though it is not yet widely developed in France."

"You can transport three times as much insulation per truck and reduce packaging by a factor of five or six." — Olivier Mognon (STEICO France)

Eco-friendly insulation, long-span panels, CLT...: product innovations

STEICO’s major innovation is the blown-in application of loose-fill wood fiber insulation. The goal is to provide cost-effective insulation while upholding environmental commitments. "We produce a bio-based material, STEICOzell, and optimize its distribution logistics to minimize its carbon footprint," explains Olivier Mognon. "This method aligns with market needs: we can transport three times as much insulation per truck and reduce packaging by a factor of five or six. It is a recent solution designed for filling structural cavities and timber-frame walls, allowing the primary thermal resistance to be provided by a loose-fill product. This delivers both superior logistical efficiency and excellent thermal performance."

In the face of climate change, the aim is not merely to make timber-frame walls more affordable, but to meet the growing need for thermal comfort. With recurring heatwaves, "we need to add more mass to our insulation systems. Timber construction offers a solution. It is a renewable material that naturally favors bio-based insulation and also enhances thermal comfort."

The other part of the solution relies on rigid LDF (Low-Density Fiber) insulation. These rigid boards serve as an "envelope" or "cloak" of insulation, wrapping the structure after the cavities have been filled with STEICOzell. "This is the technique we need to strengthen. LDF is gaining traction; the shift is already underway, and rigid insulation is being used increasingly in France—though the German market still consumes far more." Currently, the sector that makes the most use of rigid insulation is facade contracting, particularly for external thermal insulation on masonry walls. The LDF range is manufactured in Casteljaloux, in the Lot-et-Garonne department.

XLAM: Spruce-Douglas fir mix

In 2025 and 2026, XLAM sold a higher volume of CLT panels featuring a spruce-Douglas fir mix. "We hadn't highlighted it previously, but it works well for outdoor roofing projects—such as canopies or covered walkways—resting on a glulam Douglas fir structure, where aesthetic uniformity is desired," explains Hadrien Nuzillat. "The share of orders carrying the 'Bois de France' label has also risen; there is significant demand for local timber."

ISB: Long-span box beams, with a preference for Northern pine

ISB is developing a long-span box beam based on Kerto-Ripa (structural bonding technology), designed for use in floors and roofs. "This method allows for greater efficiency in raw material usage. It is an attractive option in terms of resource conservation and represents a solution for the future," notes Pascal Toussaint with satisfaction.

Product offerings are also evolving. "We are increasingly offering Northern pine, for both structural applications and exterior cladding. Due to global warming, spruce is becoming harder to source. Pine offers comparable mechanical properties and excellent aesthetic quality. It is a strong alternative to Douglas fir for exterior cladding and, in my view, a species with a promising future, given climate change and its abundant availability in Scandinavian countries."

Stora Enso: The Rise of Ribbed CLT

Stora Enso’s ribbed CLT—used for floors and roofs—is an innovation that, while not new, is gaining significant momentum. "We are using wood in an optimized way: a CLT slab with glulam ribs attached to the underside. This allows us to achieve high structural performance while reducing the total volume of wood. The ribs stiffen the structure, saving material and enhancing structural performance simultaneously," explains Charly Reignier.

According to Reignier, demand in the French market is growing. "Optimizing material usage boosts economic competitiveness. Installation times are shorter, too. Finally, the timber structure is lighter, which reduces foundation requirements—a crucial factor given today’s tighter budgets."

Ribbed CLT complements an existing product lineup that includes traditional framing, glulam, standard CLT, LVL, and timber-frame walls. It offers a new solution for residential, commercial, office, and logistics buildings. "We are even starting to build timber data centers abroad! These are industrial timber solutions designed to handle long spans and heavy loads," he concludes.

Bark beetle-infested wood: a "talking point with sawmill partners"

"We have been using bark beetle-infested wood in the inner layers of panels or in non-visible outer layers since we started operations," says Hadrien Nuzillat. "We are currently in a period where there is relatively little of this wood available, whereas there was more in the past. However, summer heatwaves might cause it to return. For us, it serves as a talking point with our sawmill partners regarding material pricing rather than a usage constraint. It allows us to optimize procurement costs by purchasing material that sawmills value less highly."

The massive influx of bark beetle-infested wood "is not as significant as what we saw in previous years. The affected regions have done the necessary work, and sanitary logging operations have been carried out in the forests. However, we cannot rule out a recurrence of the phenomenon, given the chronic drying out of forest stands," explains Pierre-Marie Olivares. "When we buy bark beetle-infested wood, we make a decision regarding its end use," adds Maxime Huck. "We don't use it for structural timber. Instead, it is directed toward packaging or formwork applications, which have lower mechanical and aesthetic requirements."

A few pilot projects do exist, "but we are just one link in the chain—situated between the project owner, the project management team, architects, construction companies, and manufacturers. If we want to expand the use of bark beetle-infested wood in structural applications, the entire chain needs to be made aware of the issues involved. If the project owner requests it, that makes it possible to launch experimental projects."

In a CLT panel made up of several layers of boards, "only the outer layer remains visible. Bark beetle-infested wood could therefore be used in the inner layers. However, this requires precisely defining which parts will remain exposed and continuing tests on their mechanical performance."

PMCB EPR: Growing Discontent

The PMCB EPR scheme "is a thorny issue for our members," an anonymous source told BOISmag. "We were forced to implement it. On paper, it’s a good thing, but the eco-organizations aren't keeping pace. Not all collection points are operational, and pickups aren't always guaranteed. We bill the customer for the eco-tax without being able to provide the corresponding service. Implementation was rushed, without real consultation with merchants and producers." Some members "are having their skips removed, yet are still required to bill the eco-tax. In other words, they are charging for a service they aren't delivering. At this stage, we have no feedback on the long-term viability of the system as originally conceived."

For his part, Hadrien Nuzillat states: "There aren't too many implementation difficulties. From a management perspective, it’s not complicated for us, since everything we produce is subject to the EPR. However, it’s the pricing that’s hard to keep up with. The initial rate was set at €4/m³, then it rose to €6.75/m³, and is now at €9.11/m³—a figure that is far from negligible given the current strain on construction budgets. We also struggle to understand how the rate is determined and how the resulting funds are used. It’s imposed on us, and ultimately, it’s all rather opaque. It’s hard to understand how it works. The timber industry is built on the valorization of by-products. We use our waste to manufacture insulation and particleboard, or to fuel biomass heating plants. So, it’s not entirely clear to us how decisions are made regarding the different materials." »

ISB says it is “very strict on this matter in order to comply with the regulation. We are implementing it. Yes, it is controversial, but we must be pragmatic and put in place the necessary measures to enforce the regulation.”

Structural Reuse: Still a Niche Practice

To date, the reuse of structural components remains a niche practice. "CLT is a relatively new product. For the moment, it doesn't affect us much because CLT-built projects haven't yet reached the dismantling stage. Projects where we’ve been able to reclaim material remain the exception," admits Hadrien Nuzillat. "However, the issue does arise regarding our manufacturing offcuts. When we produce and machine a wall, the sections corresponding to doors and windows are shredded to supply other companies in the sector (for particleboard, wood energy, etc.). While this recovery pathway is established, it alters the material's nature and may not be the best option from an environmental standpoint." XLAM is also considering reusing these offcuts to manufacture furniture.

Maxime Huck distinguishes between reuse during the production phase and reuse at the building's end-of-life. During production, certain lengths of timber are not fully utilized. Similarly, cutouts made in CLT panels for doors or windows generate offcuts. "The question is how to reuse them. Pilot projects are emerging. Some companies collect offcuts from manufacturers and carpenters to transform them into lightweight structural elements or furniture, such as pergolas, benches, or tables. However, these initiatives remain limited to small volumes. It is an area for development in the coming years," he comments. Material reuse at the end of a building's life represents a second challenge. In this regard, "everything remains to be built. Buildings are designed to meet strict regulations concerning fire safety and seismic resistance, for example. The question, therefore, is whether there is sufficient traceability to reuse this timber for structural purposes. To date, such traceability is still lacking, which hinders the process."

"It is difficult to understand how the fee scale is set and how the resulting funds are used." — Hadrien Nuzillat (XLAM Solutions)

According to him, reuse offers "real potential for the future, particularly in small-scale structures. However, it remains less viable for large-scale projects. Just as with computers or smartphones, this requires establishing a genuine recycling supply chain. Wood species vary, quality differs, and the timber is often glued. Today, such a supply chain does not really exist. Consequently, the primary method of recovery remains using the wood for energy."

"Reuse offers real potential for the future, particularly in small-scale structures." — Maxime Huck (Pfeifer Group)

Distribution: digitalization is transforming the sales role and points of sale

Among distributors, "digitalization and artificial intelligence are playing an increasingly important role," he continues. "The goal is to meet customer expectations more quickly by providing robust, reliable, and technically sound answers. Digital solutions make it possible to handle more inquiries and larger volumes while maintaining a high level of quality." The role of the sales representative is evolving. "Today, customers primarily expect technical support and rapid responses. Sales representatives are becoming experts capable of offering solutions, notably by leveraging digital tools."

ISB is also offering an increasing range of services to the market: "cutting services, custom cladding starting from 50 m², custom panel machining, and the ability to deliver anywhere in France starting from four pallets—regardless of the product line, whether structural timber, panels, or raw or planed wood," explains Pascal Toussaint.

Training: E-learning platform for Gedicoop members

A shared e-learning platform allows Gedicoop members' employees to undergo training directly. "Two in-house staff members are dedicated to member training. These are not long courses, as it is difficult to tie up participants for several months. The formats are intentionally short and are aimed particularly at warehouse staff and sales personnel," explains Pierre-Marie Olivares.

Members also have the option of using local facilities to decentralize training and organize sessions regionally. Training is offered on the installation of cladding and decking in compliance with DTU standards, as well as on timber-frame construction (floors, walls, insulation, and roof framing). These courses are delivered in short, two-day formats.

Reimagined showrooms

Distributors are continuing to modernize by adapting the customer journey. "Some showrooms are being equipped with digital displays and showrooms featuring augmented reality. This allows customers to visualize their future walk-in closets, kitchens, or other installations in 3D," explains Pierre-Marie Olivares.

Most members have their own fabrication workshops, enabling them to create custom furniture and respond quickly to buyer requests.

Finally, social media communication is playing an increasingly important role in raising public awareness of the Gedibois brand. "New-generation tradespeople are also increasingly active on these platforms," he notes. Private individuals account for 20% of Gedibois’s customer base, notably including serious DIY enthusiasts. "We need to cater to this hybrid clientele. Social media has become an integral part of our commercial and corporate communication strategy—particularly through a national partnership with the National Basketball League," concludes Pierre-Marie Olivares.

"Customers can visualize their future walk-in closets, kitchens, or other installations in 3D." Pierre-Marie Olivares (Gedibois)

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