EUDR DDS for Paper & Pulp Supply Chain in Netherlands

The EUDR DDS for Paper & Pulp Supply Chain in Netherlands ensures that all pulp, paper, and wood-based products placed on the EU market are deforestation-free, legally harvested, and fully traceable. Dutch paper manufacturers, importers, and traders must submit a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) verifying forest origin, geolocation data, and legality documentation for each batch. As a major European hub for pulp import, paper processing, and packaging exports, the Netherlands plays a key role in implementing EUDR compliance through digital traceability systems that streamline DDS generation, risk assessment, and supply chain transparency. 

The EUDR Landscape for Paper & Pulp in Netherlands 

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) represents a transformative shift in how global supply chains for wood and wood-derived products operate. Its primary objective is to prevent deforestation and forest degradation linked to commodities like timber, pulp, and paper. Under this regulation, only products proven to be deforestation-free and legally produced can enter or be traded within the EU market. This makes transparent sourcing, traceability, and verified data submission essential for compliance. 

Why Paper & Pulp Matters 

Paper and pulp are central to modern consumption, from packaging and publishing to hygiene products and industrial materials. However, they also represent a significant share of global forest utilization. Recognizing this, the EUDR explicitly includes wood and wood-derived commodities such as pulp, paper, fibreboard, and packaging within its regulated scope. Companies dealing with these materials must now provide concrete evidence that their raw materials are not linked to deforestation after 31 December 2020, and that they comply with all relevant local forest and land-use laws in producing countries. 

Why the Netherlands 

The Netherlands plays a pivotal role in the European paper and pulp ecosystem. As one of Europe’s largest hubs for imports, processing, and distribution of pulp and paper-based goods, the Dutch market connects global wood fibre flows with EU manufacturers and retailers. Rotterdam and Amsterdam serve as major entry points for pulp and wood fibre sourced from North and South America, Scandinavia, and Asia. Many Dutch companies act as first placers on the EU market, meaning they are the first to introduce regulated products into circulation within the EU. This status makes them directly responsible for EUDR Due Diligence Statement (DDS) submission and ongoing traceability obligations. 

Key Deadlines & Scope 

The EUDR applies to operators and traders who place or make available regulated products on the EU market. 

• Operators (first placers): Companies importing or producing pulp, paper, or wood-based products in the Netherlands for EU circulation must prepare and submit a DDS before the goods enter the market. 

• Traders: Businesses further down the supply chain must maintain verifiable records of compliant sourcing. 

• Deadlines: 
  Large enterprises must comply by 30 December 2025. 
  SMEs and micro-enterprises have until 30 June 2026. 

Each DDS must include detailed information on: 

• Product type and quantity, 

• Country of production, 

• Geolocation of forest plots where wood was harvested, 

• Date or time range of harvest, 

• Risk assessment and mitigation evidence ensuring legality and deforestation-free sourcing. 

Setting the Scene: The Dutch Paper & Pulp Supply Chain 

The Netherlands’ paper and pulp supply chain connects multiple stages from forest origin to finished product: 

1. Forest & Pulp Source – Raw wood or pulp sourced from producing regions such as Brazil, Scandinavia, or North America. 

2. Import & Port Operations – Bulk shipments enter through Dutch ports (Rotterdam, Amsterdam), often handled by logistics and trading firms. 

3. Processing & Manufacturing – Pulp is processed into paper, cardboard, and packaging materials by mills and converters across the Netherlands. 

4. Distribution & Export – Finished products supply EU markets in printing, packaging, and consumer goods sectors. 

Because of its strategic role as both a producer and transit hub, the Netherlands must ensure every upstream source from forest to mill is compliant. The EUDR’s traceability demands require Dutch companies to integrate supplier data, geolocation mapping, and risk assessments into a unified digital system. 

In essence, the EUDR landscape for paper & pulp in the Netherlands represents both a challenge and an opportunity. By adopting digital traceability and proactive due diligence processes, Dutch paper and pulp operators can transform compliance into a hallmark of sustainability, reinforcing their leadership in ethical sourcing and responsible manufacturing within the EU. 

Master the step-by-step process of submitting Due Diligence Statements under the new EUDR rules. 
Read the blog on filing DDS for EUDR compliance 

Curious how the EUDR will reshape the paper and pulp industry?  

The regulation is more than a compliance requirement; it’s a turning point for transparency, traceability, and sustainability in fibre-based value chains. 

Read our blog: The Impact of EUDR on the Paper & Pulp Industry 

What are the Key Challenges Dutch Paper & Pulp Companies Face under the EUDR 

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) introduces strict traceability, documentation, and verification requirements for commodities like wood, pulp, and paper. While essential for sustainable trade, compliance presents several operational and structural challenges, particularly for companies in the Netherlands, one of Europe’s largest hubs for paper and pulp imports and processing. Below is an in-depth look at the major challenges Dutch operators face under the EUDR framework. 

1. Complex Multi-Tier Sourcing Chains 

Dutch paper and pulp companies often import from a web of global suppliers, spanning regions like Scandinavia, North and South America, and Asia. Pulp shipments are typically aggregated by large traders or brokers who source from multiple mills and forest owners before exporting. This multi-tier structure makes it difficult to establish direct visibility into the origin of every fibre used in the pulp mix. The lack of end-to-end transparency increases the burden of mapping suppliers, tracing intermediaries, and verifying deforestation-free sourcing for each batch. 

2. Traceability and Geolocation Challenges 

One of the most demanding EUDR requirements is the provision of precise geolocation coordinates for the plots where the wood used to produce pulp was harvested. In practice, this is complex because: 

• Pulp is typically produced by combining fibres from numerous forest plots, often across different regions or ownerships. 

• Mills may process a mix of certified and non-certified fibres, losing direct traceability at the batch level. 

• Many sourcing regions, particularly in Latin America and parts of Asia, still lack robust digital geolocation systems or forest mapping records. 
  For Dutch operators, verifying and maintaining this geospatial data is both logistically challenging and data-intensive, especially when suppliers lack standardized digital tools. 

3. Variability in Documentation and Legality Frameworks 

Another major challenge lies in the diversity of forest governance systems across producing countries. Each exporting nation has its own set of forestry laws, certification schemes (like FSC or PEFC), and verification mechanisms. Some countries have strong enforcement and documentation systems, while others rely on voluntary or fragmented records. 

To comply with the EUDR, Dutch importers must prove that all raw materials are both deforestation-free and legally harvested according to the local laws of the source country. Aligning these different documentation standards and verifying authenticity, especially for blended pulp lots adds a substantial administrative burden. 

4. Product Complexity and Derivative Chains 

Paper and pulp supply chains are highly derivative and transformative. Raw wood is processed into pulp, which is then converted into an array of intermediate and final products from packaging and cardboard to tissue, stationery, and coated paper. Along this transformation chain, the mixing of fibre sources and the absence of batch-level identifiers can obscure origin data. This makes demonstrating “deforestation-free” status for finished paper products extremely challenging. Maintaining traceability through every stage from logs to pulp to final product requires digital integration across suppliers, mills, and converters. 

5. Regulatory and Reputational Risk 

Failure to meet EUDR requirements exposes companies to significant regulatory and market risks. Non-compliance can result in: 

• Shipment blocks or rejections at EU entry points. 

• Financial penalties and legal action from regulators. 

• Loss of buyer trust and long-term damage to brand reputation, especially for suppliers to environmentally conscious European clients. 
  For Dutch operators who serve as intermediaries or exporters within the EU, these risks can ripple downstream, affecting customer relationships and supply continuity. 

6. Data and System Readiness 

EUDR compliance depends heavily on data accuracy and accessibility. However, many suppliers, particularly those in developing regions, lack digital infrastructure to capture and share key compliance data, such as: 

• GPS coordinates of harvest plots. 

• Harvest and transport dates. 

• Chain-of-custody documentation. 
  Without digitized data pipelines, Dutch paper and pulp importers face manual, error-prone processes to collect and consolidate this information. Integrating data from multiple suppliers, formats, and verification systems into a single compliance framework requires investment in digital platforms, training, and cross-supplier coordination. 

7. Netherlands-Specific Context: The Role of “First Placers” 

As one of Europe’s primary import and processing hubs, Dutch paper and pulp companies often act as first placers on the EU market, meaning they are the first to introduce products regulated under the EUDR. This status makes them legally responsible for conducting and documenting full due diligence. 
Dutch mills, packaging converters, and distributors must therefore: 

• Engage directly with upstream global suppliers to ensure traceability and legality. 

• Adopt traceability systems capable of mapping product journeys from forest to finished paper. 

• Implement risk assessment frameworks that identify high-risk sourcing zones and enable proactive mitigation. 

• Coordinate with EU customs and buyers to maintain compliance transparency across the value chain. 

In summary, Dutch paper and pulp companies face a multi-dimensional compliance challenge under the EUDR, one that combines legal, logistical, and data-management complexities. Yet, these challenges also present an opportunity: by digitizing their traceability systems and collaborating across the supply chain, Dutch operators can not only meet regulatory demands but also reinforce their position as sustainability leaders in Europe’s wood-based industries. 

How TraceX Simplifies EUDR DDS for Paper & Pulp in the Netherlands 

As the EUDR compliance deadlines draw near, Dutch paper and pulp companies face a growing challenge proving that every shipment of pulp, board, and packaging material entering or leaving the Netherlands is deforestation-free and legally sourced. With complex global supply chains and multi-source fibre blending, manual compliance is no longer sustainable. TraceX’s EUDR Compliance Platform offers a fully integrated digital solution that automates traceability, streamlines Due Diligence Statement (DDS) generation, and ensures seamless alignment with EU deforestation regulations. 

End-to-End Digital Traceability from Forest to Finished Product 

TraceX delivers full visibility across the wood fibre supply chain, from forest origin to pulp processing, paper manufacturing, and packaging distribution. Every shipment or batch is assigned a unique digital identity linked to verified geolocation data of forest plots. This ensures geospatial traceability and proof of legality, meeting EUDR’s core criteria for deforestation-free sourcing. Dutch importers and converters can now validate fibre origins across continents from Nordic softwood pulp to tropical hardwood sources within a single dashboard. 

Automated DDS Creation and Submission 

The platform automates the entire DDS process, collecting supplier data, legality certificates, and geolocation information, then generating compliant DDS reports ready for submission to the EU’s central EUDR system. This reduces manual data handling and eliminates reporting delays, while ensuring every Dutch operator’s submission is audit-ready. With pre-validation and risk scoring features, TraceX minimizes compliance errors and streamlines documentation for exporters, mills, and packaging manufacturers alike. 

Blockchain-Backed Chain of Custody 

Each transaction from forest harvest to pulp conversion and paper shipment is securely recorded on a blockchain ledger, providing an immutable proof of origin. This tamper-proof audit trail ensures that every fibre entering Dutch facilities can be traced back to a verified legal source. The blockchain layer not only enhances trust with EU regulators but also strengthens transparency across trading partners, certification bodies, and end customers. 

Supplier and Forest Concession Onboarding Tools 

TraceX’s mobile-first onboarding tools simplify data collection from global suppliers and forest operators. Through GPS-based mapping, document uploads, and digital verification, even small forest owners and pulp mills can be registered and integrated into compliant supply networks. This feature is particularly valuable for Dutch importers and distributors dealing with mixed-origin pulp, allowing them to digitally standardize supplier data collection and ensure traceability at scale. 

Real-Time Dashboards for Risk Assessment and Compliance Monitoring 

TraceX’s AI-powered dashboards offer a comprehensive compliance command centre. Dutch companies can visualize sourcing origins, assess deforestation exposure, track legality gaps, and monitor supplier performance in real time. The platform’s automated risk-scoring engine helps prioritize high-risk sourcing zones, enabling companies to take proactive action before audits or border inspections. This not only reduces compliance risk but also enhances supply chain resilience and transparency. 

Example: Dutch Packaging Manufacturer Compliance Transformation 

A leading Dutch packaging manufacturer sourcing pulp from Brazil, Finland, and Indonesia can use TraceX to map forest coordinates, verify legality documents, and auto-generate DDS reports for each shipment. Within weeks, the company can achieve end-to-end traceability, cut compliance preparation time by over 60%, and gain full visibility into supplier performance, ensuring uninterrupted access to the EU market post-2025. 

By combining blockchain security, AI-driven risk analytics, and automated DDS workflows, TraceX transforms EUDR compliance from a regulatory obligation into a competitive advantage. Dutch paper and pulp companies using TraceX not only secure compliance readiness but also position themselves as leaders in sustainable, transparent, and deforestation-free fibre sourcing.

Why It Matters: Impacts for the Dutch Paper & Pulp Sector 

Building Trust with Downstream Buyers 

European packaging, publishing, and hygiene paper customers are increasingly demanding verifiable proof that their fibre inputs are deforestation-free and responsibly sourced. By complying with EUDR requirements, Dutch paper and pulp producers can demonstrate end-to-end traceability and legality, earning greater buyer confidence and maintaining long-term supply contracts with eco-conscious brands. 

Strengthening ESG & Sustainability Credentials 

EUDR compliance allows Dutch companies to align their operations with stronger ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards. Beyond meeting the regulation, it reinforces sustainability commitments such as: 

• Increasing the share of certified and recycled fibre, 

• Supporting sustainable forest management, and 

• Accelerating the transition to a circular paper economy. 
  This positions the Netherlands as a European leader in sustainable paper production and export. 

Competitive Advantage through Early Compliance 

Early adopters of traceability and compliance solutions can expect smoother customs clearance, reduced risk of supply chain disruption, and preferential access to high-value EU buyers. By proactively integrating digital traceability systems, Dutch mills and converters gain a tangible advantage over competitors still navigating manual or fragmented EUDR processes. 

Risk Mitigation and Market Continuity 

Non-compliance with EUDR can result in shipment delays, financial penalties, and exclusion from EU markets. For Dutch exporters and distributors that act as “first placers,” such risks are amplified. Implementing strong due diligence systems not only ensures market continuity but also protects reputational integrity with buyers and regulators alike. 

Contribution to Global Forest Protection 

The Netherlands’ paper and pulp sector plays a crucial role in shaping responsible global fibre trade. By ensuring that wood-based materials imported, processed, and exported via Dutch ports are deforestation-free, the industry directly supports international goals for climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land use. This alignment with EU Green Deal objectives enhances the sector’s global standing and contributes to a more ethical and transparent value chain. 

In essence, EUDR compliance isn’t just a legal requirement for Dutch paper and pulp companies; it’s a strategic imperative. It enables the sector to safeguard its EU market access, strengthen sustainability leadership, and build the resilient, transparent supply chains that define the future of responsible manufacturing. 

EUDR DDS for Paper & Pulp Supply Chain in the Netherlands  

As one of Europe’s largest trade and processing hubs for pulp, paper, and packaging, the Netherlands plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of wood-based value chains across the EU. The EUDR DDS for Paper & Pulp Supply Chain in the Netherlands represents not just a compliance requirement but a strategic opportunity to strengthen transparency, sustainability, and competitiveness. By adopting digital platforms like TraceX, Dutch paper and pulp companies can automate Due Diligence Statement generation, integrate blockchain-backed traceability, and maintain real-time visibility across sourcing regions. This proactive approach enables them to stay ahead of regulatory deadlines, reduce operational risks, and demonstrate leadership in responsible fibre sourcing, ensuring that every product manufactured or exported via the Netherlands contributes to a deforestation-free and climate-aligned future. 

Understand the key components of EUDR compliance and how to streamline your DDS process efficiently. 
Read the blog on EUDR Due Diligence 

Learn how AI-driven automation and intelligent workflows simplify data collection, verification, and reporting. 
Explore the blog on Agentic AI for EUDR 

Unpack the biggest hurdles faced by importers under EUDR — and how technology can turn compliance into a competitive edge. 
https://tracextech.com/eudr-compliance-importers-checklist/ 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)