Verflechtungen der Forst-, Holz- und Papierwirtschaft mit den kritischen Infrastrukturen in Deutschland (KRITIS)

Against the background of measures against further spreading of SARS-CoV-2 and their effects in Germany, Europe and the world we analysed interdependences between wood sector and critical infrastructure (KRITIS) in Germany, which wood-based products are used in critical infrastructures and where relevant resources and semi-finished products for wood-based manufacturing originate from. Wood-based energy production, manufacture of wooden containers and containers of paper and paperboard, manufacture of household and sanitary goods and of toilet requisites are directly linked to sectors and branches of critical infrastructure in Germany. These directly linked branches of forestry, wood and paper industries receive inputs that cannot or only with difficulties be substituted with products of other branches. These are sawing and planing of wood, manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels, manufacture of pulp and manufacture of paper and paperboard. These directly linked branches of forestry, wood and paper industries receive inputs that cannot or only with difficulties be substituted with products of other branches. These are sawing and planing of wood, manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels, manufacture of pulp and manufacture of paper and paperboard. Energy is also an important sector of critical infrastructures. The definition of dedicated branches within this sector however, does not cover heat generation in private households. In Germany, about 0.9 million households use wood as the primary energy carrier. In terms of quantity, they are the most important user of wood energy. In contrast to heat generation in private households, electricity generation and heat generation in biomass power plants are covered by the definition of critical infrastructures in Germany. Dependence on imports of the identified branches of forestry, wood and paper industries strongly varies. Shares of net imports as related to domestic use are highest for chemical wood pulp and plywood. Net imports of roundwood, fibreboard, wood pulp and recovered paper are also significant. Effects of interrupted supply chains are difficult to assess. If net exports are high in certain branches, the reduction of these exports to compensate for reduced imports, may be an option. Flat pallets of wood play an important role in global transport and logistics. Interruption of commodity flows may also lead to a reduced availability of flat pallets and consequently to larger delays in transport. Goods for daily use in private households that are not directly vital but important for maintaining hygienic standards or, in a pandemic, for complying with additional rules, should be reviewed. It may be necessary to take them into account more strongly in future definitions of critical infrastructures.