Implementation in 2026! New national standards clarify grading requirements, will the engineered wood industry experience a 'revolution'?

Source: Customization Observation

The State Administration for Market Regulation recently released the new national standard GB 18580-2025 for engineered wood, "Indoor Decoration and Renovation Materials - Formaldehyde Release Limits in Engineered Wood and its Products," which will be implemented on June 1, 2026, replacing the GB 18580-2017 standard. The new standard explicitly incorporates the E0 and E1 standards into regulatory requirements, and further refines the classification and testing methods of engineered wood, with formaldehyde limit indicators becoming stricter across the board.

CCTV reported on this, with industry costs and technological thresholds rising simultaneously, accelerating the elimination of wood panel enterprises unable to transform and upgrade, and some small workshops may face the risk of direct closure, triggering an "earthquake" in the industry.

Five major changes in the new national standard for engineered wood

E0 and E1 standards are included as entry thresholds

Compared to the 2017 version, the new national standard comprehensively clarifies standard rules in five aspects: terminology and definitions, formaldehyde release limit requirements, judgment rules, test methods, and production quality control methods. The primary change is that it provides a clear definition of engineered wood and its products, and divides the product scope into two categories.

The 2017 version standard only generally listed the scope of application as fiberboard 、 particleboard 、 plywood 、 blockboard , surface-treated engineered wood, wooden flooring, wooden doors and windows, etc., without distinguishing product affiliation and level.

The new national standard clearly defines engineered wood and its products for the first time, and divides them into two categories: The first category, "engineered wood," refers to the base materials such as plywood, particleboard, and blockboard made from wood or non-wood plant fibers, with or without adhesives; the second category, "engineered wood products," refers to products further processed using engineered wood as the main material, such as surface-treated engineered wood, wooden flooring, wooden doors, wooden stairs , etc.

In addition to classification, the new national standard also changes the formaldehyde release limit to a graded requirement, uniformly using E0 and E1 as the judgment basis; at the same time, it strictly regulates the test methods, and adds the "small chamber method" in the production quality control stage, making testing and management more scientific and rigorous.

The release of the new national standard will force industrial upgrading

Accelerating industry survival of the fittest

The stricter environmental limits of the new national standard for engineered wood will be implemented on June 1, 2026. Its implementation will accelerate industry reshuffling and force industrial upgrading, mainly affecting the following aspects:

First, the new national standard lists E0 and E1 as mandatory entry requirements. Among them, customized home brands involved in the integrated whole-house customization of customized wardrobes, doors, and wall panels, etc., must meet the E0 environmental protection standard.

Second, the formaldehyde release amount detection cycle is shortened by at least 5 days. The new national standard compresses the original detection time of more than half a month, reducing it by at least 5 days, solving the detection efficiency pain points and reducing enterprise capital occupation and management costs. Relevant industry insiders said that in the past, testing took more than half a month, delaying delivery and tying up a large amount of funds; according to the new standard, the testing time is shortened by at least 5 days, and the management cost is significantly reduced.

Third, it promotes market segmentation and demand upgrading. Consumers' demand for environmentally friendly wood panels will be clearer, with high-environmental protection grade products being more favored, forcing enterprises to upgrade and develop and produce products of different environmental protection grades to meet the needs of different consumers.

Fourth, it accelerates industry clearing and the elimination of small workshops. Under the improved environmental protection threshold, brand enterprises with R&D capabilities, stable quality, and compliance with environmental protection standards will have a prominent advantage, and their market share is expected to expand; while small enterprises that cannot meet the requirements or lack brand power will have their survival space squeezed.

The imminent implementation of the new national standard marks a substantial tightening of home environmental protection supervision. For wood panel merchants, relying solely on price wars is no longer sustainable, and they must shift to brand-oriented operations in the future, relying on stable quality and environmental performance. For customized home brands, the cost of supply chain environmental compliance is increasing, and competition will focus more on product quality, design services, and delivery experience.

At the same time, under the trend of consumption upgrading, the "light high-end customization" market focusing on environmental protection, design, and services is expected to accelerate its rise. The industry consensus is already clear: under the new regulations, the old path of "price competition" is unsustainable, and "quality competition and service competition" are the core paths for future survival and development.

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