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When people think of Italy, they think of warm beaches and sun-drenched villages but in the north that’s far from the norm. The north has rugged mountains with severe winters, getting caught unawares in this landscape can be fatal. Source: Timberbiz, photos Studio Francesco Faccin That’s where Pancalpina comes to the rescue – the literal translation is alpine bench. Pancalpina is a hybrid object designed for those who experience the mountains. It is a traditional bench, intended for contemplating the landscape, resting, or reflecting, which can transform when needed into a survival kit. Its belly conceals a survival kit and a tent that can be set up using the bench’s own structure. It is not a bivouac or a place for long stays, but rather a minimal shelter for survival while waiting for rescue or for spending a night protected from rain or snow. In its bench configuration, Pancalpina is discreet and non-invasive, made of materials designed to withstand extreme conditions. In emergency form, it becomes a place of safety: inside, users can find essential items such as thermal blankets, a shovel, a torch, and everything needed to set up the tent. The alpine environment remains one of the few areas of truly wild-and at times harsh-nature left in Europe. Any intervention must therefore be respectful and limited capable of preserving a landscape that is only lightly anthropized. Refuges, bivouacs, and benches are among the structures that define these places, becoming true artificial landmarks that help people orient themselves and find protection. Within this context, Pancalpina proposes a new type of object that could, in the future, contribute to experiencing the mountains in a safer yet minimally invasive way. The structure, made of solid larch wood with stainless steel components, ensures durability and resistance to the extreme weather conditions typical of mountain environments. Pancalpina was designed by Studio Francesco Faccin and it was part of a project promoted by Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Italy.

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As PEFC embarks on a comprehensive revision of its system and standards, it is inviting organisations across the forest products supply chain to help inform the process by taking part in its 2026 Market Survey. Source: Timberbiz Conducted every two years, the survey helps better understand what matters most to organisations when it comes to forest certification, responsible sourcing and the market for certified forest-based products. This year, the survey also serves as an early consultation for the PEFC system revision. Your feedback will help inform discussions on how the PEFC system and standards can continue to meet evolving market, regulatory and sustainability expectations. Whether you’re a retailer, brand owner, manufacturer, supplier, PEFC-certified company, or source PEFC-certified materials, PEFC would like you to share your perspectives. The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Some questions will only be shown where they are relevant to your organisation. The survey covers a range of topics, including: The value and performance of PEFC certification Market demand and future growth opportunities Sustainability impact data, traceability and supply chain integrity Training, tools and implementation support Sustainability reporting and regulatory developments Priorities for the future development of the PEFC system.   As a thank you for participating, you can also choose to receive an advance summary of the survey findings and an invitation to an online briefing on the results. At the end of the survey, select this option and provide your email address if you would like to receive these updates. Your email address will be collected solely for this purpose. PEFC International and/or the relevant PEFC national member may use it to contact you with the advance survey summary and invitation to the online briefing. It will not be shared with other third parties. The survey closes on 26 August 2026. You can access the survey here. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3WY7SQT If you have any questions email info@pefc.org

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