Recycling in a new circular economy landscape
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. And a very warm welcome to the 15th International Aluminium Recycling Congress. We meet at an exciting and pivotal time for us all.
Last year, we launched a manifesto calling for an integrated and comprehensive industrial strategy across Europe. It's a voluntary initiative by the European aluminium industry aimed at developing a more creative, sustainable and innovative industry. We hope it inspires Europe’s decision-makers to envisage a renewed, refreshed and dynamic industry.
And earlier this year we introduced our Vision 2050. Its aim is simply stated but far-reaching: decarbonise the whole aluminium value chain. It highlights the major contribution that the entire aluminium industry can make to Europe’s efforts to decarbonise the economy by 2050. And it demonstrates aluminium’s strategic role in helping achieve lower carbon targets in Europe. We accomplish this through innovation and technology applied to production processes, new business models, and our metal's unique properties of durability, recyclability and light weight.
Clearly, recycling aluminium already offers considerable potential for saving energy and enhancing circular economy models.
The world in which we operate faces many challenges. Brexit, pending European elections - and, of course, trade measures. Yet, despite these difficulties, I continue to be optimistic about the future of our sector. And the main reason for that optimism is captured in the theme of our congress: Recycling in a new circular economy landscape.
Because what we are going to be discussing over the next two days are now permanent features of our industry. The infinite recyclability of aluminium. The essential progress towards a circular economy. And the vital bridge between the two: innovation.
For it is only by innovating that we continue to find better ways to recycle our precious metal. Better ways to collect and sort scrap. Better ways to optimise the yield from remelting. And better ways to improve recycling habits.
Our programme has been carefully designed to ensure that you have access to key data and trends that touch on these three building blocks – recycling, circular economy, and innovation. And, of course, have plenty of opportunities to meet colleagues and experts to share experiences and exchange views.
Since we last met, on behalf of our members, European Aluminium has been working hard to create the environment for every part of the industry to thrive. In Europe, we had major input to the Circular Economy Package, positively influencing the Waste Framework and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives to embrace the needs and concerns of the aluminium sector. And Europe now has the framework to make the Circular Economy really work.
With impressive recycling rates of over 90% in transport and building, and over 65% in packaging, aluminium has already been contributing to the European circular economy. However, as we know, there is still room for improvement and we look at Member States to invest more in their existing collection and sorting infrastructure in order to meet the new and more ambitious recycling targets. It’s also time to start delivering by Member States on reducing landfill of household waste to a maximum of 10% by 2035. And why not being even more ambitious?
The Circular Economy resonates with today’s expectations to produce and consume in a more sustainable way. Thanks to its inherent properties aluminium can be recycled multiplied times. And the concept of Multiple recycling has been recognised by legislators.
Europe still needs to reduce scrap leakage to third countries. Today EU’s legislation requires member states to report on measures taken to ensure that waste exported from the EU is treated in broadly equivalent conditions to those required in the EU from an environmental point in view. We believe that other conditions should be considered, such as health, safety, labour rights. We’re calling the EU Commission to make a proposal to list these conditions.
We have been connecting those who are planning the circular economy with those who are building it. We continue to create bridges between policy makers and businesses and believe that working collaboratively through the value chain is the right way to improve the collection and sorting of scrap.
As we know, once you have produced aluminium you can bring it back to life eternally. It’s just a question of how efficient we are in collecting, sorting, and bringing it into recycling loop.
Despite our challenges, we do have a lot to be optimistic about. Europe’s aluminium industry has much to pride itself on and has robust reasons for looking forward to the future. The aim of this congress is to think ahead and send a strong message about our commitment to innovate, invest and be a catalyst for the circular economy.