The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is raising the bar for supply chain transparency, requiring companies to look beyond direct suppliers and verify where regulated commodities originate. But for organizations managing complex, multi-tier supply chains, connecting products to production plots and gathering the evidence to prove compliance is easier said than done.
In our recent webinar, Proving EUDR Compliance: From Plot to Product, Ranjit Jose (Head of Product and Partner Marketing, Resilinc) and Jinal Surti (CEO, Epoch) discussed what it takes to trace regulated commodities back to the source and prove compliance. Dan Emery (Lead Data Scientist, Resilinc) then showed how that works in the Resilinc platform, from mapping the supply network to the new EUDR Compliance Agent.
Their advice: A focused, practical approach can help organizations identify compliance gaps and make meaningful progress before the deadline. Here are four steps to get started.
Four practical steps to test your EUDR readiness
With EUDR deadlines approaching, organizations can start identifying compliance gaps now, without attempting to map and validate their entire supply chain at once.
- Start with a manageable set of products. Identify products and materials most likely to fall within EUDR scope. Use a small sample to understand what information you already have and where gaps exist.
- Find out where your visibility stops. Trace regulated materials beyond Tier 1 suppliers to determine how far upstream your visibility extends and where additional supplier or source information is needed.
- Validate the evidence you already have. Test whether supplier declarations, geolocation coordinates, and other documentation can be verified and connected to the relevant products. Having data doesn’t necessarily mean you can prove compliance.
- Test the process from beginning to end. Select a real product and walk through the complete due diligence workflow, from identifying exposure and verifying origin to engaging suppliers and preparing a Due Diligence Statement (DDS).
Ranjit Jose summarized:
“You don’t have to solve your entire supply chain on day one. Start with a real product, test the process end to end, and find out where it breaks. That’s where you’ll learn what needs attention.”
The webinar explored why these steps matter, where companies typically encounter challenges, and how technology can help close the gaps.
EUDR compliance starts with knowing where your materials come from
Most companies have a reasonably good understanding of their direct suppliers. But EUDR requires organizations to look much further upstream, often to the actual farm, plantation, or plot of land where a regulated commodity originated. As Jinal Surti stated:
“Knowing who supplied a material is one thing. Being able to verify where it was actually produced and prove that origin is an entirely different challenge.”
The regulation covers seven core commodities—cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy, and wood—along with certain derived products. For companies with complex supply chains, identifying where these materials enter the network isn’t always straightforward.
The first step isn’t to start requesting documentation from every supplier. It’s to understand which products and materials may be in scope and where the relevant exposure exists.
Collecting supplier data is only half the challenge
Another important point we explored was the difference between having information and having evidence you can confidently stand behind.
Under EUDR, organizations need to demonstrate that relevant products are deforestation-free, legally produced, and supported by the necessary geolocation and due diligence information.
That raises some practical questions. If a supplier provides geographic coordinates:
- How do you know they’re accurate?
- Can you connect those coordinates to the material in your product?
- And can you substantiate that the relevant production area meets the regulation’s deforestation requirements?
Surti reinforced this point:
“Suppliers will send you coordinates but it’s up to you to check them: does that plot exist, was it cleared after 2020, and is it actually where your material came from?”
The data may exist, but it’s often spread across different suppliers, systems, spreadsheets, and email conversations. Bringing it together and validating it can become an enormous undertaking.
Why the traditional approach to supplier outreach doesn’t scale
When companies begin preparing for new regulations, the natural response is often to send questionnaires to their entire supplier base, but that approach can create more work than necessary. As noted by Ranjit Jose,
“If you start by asking every supplier for everything, compliance quickly becomes a massive data-collection exercise. The smarter approach is to identify where the exposure is first, then focus your outreach where it actually matters.”
Not every supplier has the same level of EUDR exposure. Some may have no relevant commodities in the products they provide. Others may be several tiers removed from the original production source and unable to provide the information being requested. Meanwhile, the suppliers who hold the most critical information may be much further upstream.
A more effective approach is to first identify where regulated materials are present, understand the relevant supply chain relationships, and then focus supplier outreach on the specific paths that need verification. This makes the process more manageable for both the organization conducting due diligence and the suppliers being asked to participate.
Bridging the gap between supply chain visibility and first-mile traceability
Our discussion also explored how Resilinc and Epoch bring complementary capabilities to EUDR compliance.
Resilinc provides multi-tier supply network and material intelligence, revealing relationships between products, materials, suppliers, and production sites. Epoch extends that visibility to the first mile, identifying where regulated commodities originate and validating source-level evidence.
Together, they give organizations a more complete picture: Resilinc shows which of your products contain regulated commodities and which suppliers they pass through. Epoch confirms which plots those commodities came from and whether that land has been deforested since December 31, 2020.
Moving from exposure to action with the EUDR Compliance Agent
We also introduced Resilinc’s EUDR Compliance Agent, with Dan Emery demonstrating live how it brings these activities into a connected workflow, from identifying regulated products and mapping suppliers to preparing Due Diligence Statements (DDS).
The approach follows three stages: Sense, Recommend, and Act.
- Sense: It begins by identifying potentially exposed products and suppliers, determining where EUDR obligations may apply, and surfacing gaps in the available traceability information.
- Recommend: From there, the agent helps prioritize what needs attention. Rather than treating every missing data point equally, it can highlight potentially higher-risk supplier relationships or production plots and recommend where additional verification is needed.
- Act: Finally, it helps move that analysis into action through targeted supplier assessments, evidence collection, and preparation of the Due Diligence Statement (DDS).
Jose stated:
“The goal is to go beyond identifying EUDR exposure to connecting that insight to the next action, whether that’s validating a production plot, engaging a supplier, or preparing the evidence needed for due diligence.”
What’s important here is that these activities aren’t intended to operate independently.
Information gathered during supplier mapping, source verification, and assessments contributes to a connected evidence record that can support the due diligence process.
AI reduces time spent on manual analysis, supplier outreach, and evidence collection, which frees teams to focus on higher-value work. The key is that human oversight remains central, with teams retaining control over evidence validation, approvals, and final compliance decisions.
Build an evidence record that works beyond the initial submission
An important consideration for EUDR readiness is how organizations maintain and reuse compliance evidence over time. As supplier relationships change, new materials enter the supply chain, or additional verification is required, teams need reliable access to the information behind previous due diligence decisions. Jose highlighted the value:
“Every step should build on the one before it. When your mapping, verification, supplier assessments, and due diligence documentation are connected, you’re not constantly starting over or rebuilding the same evidence.”
Maintaining a centralized evidence record makes it easier to revisit compliance conclusions, respond to inquiries, and address new information without repeating the entire process. It also creates a stronger foundation for managing future regulatory requirements.
The bottom line: Build for EUDR and beyond
EUDR applies to large and medium operators from December 30, 2026. Running one product through the full process now shows you where the gaps are while there’s time to close them. The supplier maps and verified origin data you build will also cover much of what the next regulation asks for.
The investment also creates value beyond EUDR. Stronger traceability, verified supplier data, and more efficient due diligence workflows provide a foundation for navigating future regulations, reducing compliance costs, and adapting to evolving supply chain risks.
Questions from the audience
How do I know if my company is impacted by EUDR?
Your company may be impacted if you place covered commodities or products on the EU market, export them from the EU, or participate in their supply chains. Start by checking your products’ HS/CN codes against Annex I of the regulation, then determine your role and applicable due diligence obligations.
What happens if my supplier cannot provide geolocation or plot data?
Geolocation data is a core EUDR requirement. If suppliers cannot provide it, companies can explore alternative sources, including Resilinc and Epoch, to help identify and validate production locations. However, the required evidence must still be collected and verified before affected products can be placed on the EU market.
What will EUDR enforcement look like?
EU member-state authorities will conduct risk-based checks, including reviewing due diligence documentation, verifying geolocation data, and inspecting products. Noncompliance can result in fines, product seizure, market restrictions, and other penalties. Enforcement will vary by member state.
Is packaging covered by EUDR?
Certain wood-based and paper packaging products are covered, but applicability depends on their classification and use. Packaging sold as a product in its own right may be in scope, while packaging used exclusively to protect, support, or carry another product is generally excluded.
What happens if deforestation is identified in my supply chain?
If a covered product is linked to deforestation after December 31, 2020, it may not meet EUDR requirements. Companies must investigate the exposure, assess the affected products, and prevent noncompliant products from entering or leaving the EU market. Remediation may require changing sourcing arrangements or suppliers.
What other regulations can I leverage EUDR data for?
EUDR traceability and supplier data can support compliance efforts related to the EU Forced Labour Regulation, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), EU Battery Regulation, and other supply chain transparency requirements. While each regulation has distinct obligations, shared supplier mapping, material traceability, and evidence-management capabilities can reduce duplicate work.
Are synthetic materials, such as synthetic rubber, covered by EUDR?
EUDR applies to natural rubber and certain products derived from it but generally does not cover fully synthetic rubber made from petroleum-based materials. Products containing both natural and synthetic rubber may still fall within scope, depending on their classification under Annex I. Companies should verify the material composition and applicable HS/CN codes to determine whether EUDR requirements apply.
Continue the conversation
If you’d like to explore how Resilinc and Epoch can help your organization address EUDR requirements, we encourage you to schedule a demo with our team.
You can also explore these additional resources:
- EUDR Readiness Assessment: Evaluate your current compliance preparedness and identify potential gaps.
- EUDR Solution Brief: Learn how Resilinc’s EUDR Compliance Agent connects exposure identification, source verification, and due diligence workflows.
- EUDR Special Report: Explore the requirements and challenges shaping EUDR compliance.
