Dutch and Swedish recycling industries pledge support to Global Recycling Foundation

The Dutch Waste Management Association (DWMA), the Dutch Industrial Secondary Raw Materials Association for construction and civil engineering (VIB), the Dutch recycling federation FHG and the Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association (SRI) have announced their status as ‘Founding Friends’ of the Global Recycling Foundation, becoming some of the earliest donors of the foundation.

 Photograph by Hanne Hansen

Yesterday, during the Nordic Economy Summit 2019, they pledged their support to the Global Recycling Foundation’s Founding President, Ranjit S. Baxi. The Global Recycling Foundation was established in October 2018 to promote and encourage recycling across the world. The recycling and reuse of waste materials is considered to be a crucial element in the transition to the circular economy.

The Dutch waste and recycling associations are supporting the Global Recycling Foundation because they want to contribute to the worldwide structural shift from landfill to recycling. The alliance of the organisations is an initiative of the Dutch Waste Management Association (DWMA). Managing director Robbert Loos commented:

‘’As a partner in the circular economy, for us it is a logical step to join the Global Recycling Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to send a powerful message that recycling must be promoted more effectively worldwide. We hope that many more organisations and countries will join.’’

‘’And promotion and support is urgently needed,’’ continues Loos. ‘’In a recently published report the World Bank has calculated that in the coming decades the generation of municipal solid waste alone is expected to rise from 2 to 3.5 billion tonnes per year. If we do not invest in change now, most of this waste will be landfilled or dumped.’’

A more circular economy could more than halve the EU's industrial emissions by 2050. This is one of the key achievements in the ground-breaking report Re-configure: The circular economy - a powerful force for climate control, commissioned by the Finnish government, the innovation fund Sitra and the European Climate Foundation.

‘’The Global Recycling Foundation is an important initiative’’, adds Lina Bergström, CEO of the Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association. ‘’The world must realize that recycling is crucial to combat climate change. Increased recycling and use of recycled raw materials will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The recycling of worn-out products (or as the Foundation has called them, ‘the Seventh Resource’) to new raw materials is one of the most effective measures that can be implemented to reduce our climate impact. That is why recycled raw materials must be demanded to an even greater extent. The Swedish Recycling Industries are working with businesses to accelerate the transition to circular material flows and we will gladly share our best practice and techniques for joint success.’’

In supporting the Global Recycling Foundation, the Swedish and Dutch recycling sectors underline the ambitions of international institutions such as the United Nations, the World Resources Institute and the European Union to speed up the transition to a circular and sustainable economy.

Rob Wiegers, president of the VIB and board member of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) contributed: ‘’The Netherlands can make a broad contribution to raising global awareness of the potential applications of recycled waste materials and the use of industrial by-products. Our knowledge and experience can help accelerate the worldwide transition to a circular economy.’’

Secretary General of the FHG, Hans Koning, underlines that special attention on Global Recycling Day (annually on March 18) for the benefits of recycling in reducing CO2 emissions and saving scarce resources is of great value for creating public and political awareness and support sustainable actions.

Ranijt S. Baxi, Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation: “Today is a milestone moment for the Global Recycling Foundation. It sees international industries coming together to drive global behaviour change towards recycling. Globally, recycling is projected to contribute over $500 billion to global GDP by 2025, providing millions of jobs globally and saving close to 1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030. I strongly believe that recycling, positioned as our vital Seventh Resource, must take centre-stage for its contribution in preserving the future of our planet. The time is now for Global leaders and influencers to recognise the role recycling plays and ensure that the Seventh Resource is promoted more effectively on a global scale.”

Threefold Taekwondo World champion Samira El Idrissi is also teaming up with the four ‘Founding Friends of the Global Recycling Foundation’ as first Ambassador for the Global Recycling Foundation.
Samira El Idrissi: “I am honoured to become the first Ambassador. More recycling is very important! The benefits are so obvious. As Ambassador of the Global Recycling Foundation I would like to contribute raising social awareness and local action. The Global Recycling Day is coming soon on the 18th March and I call on the world to participate. Together we win!”

For further information, contact the Global Recycling Foundation PR team:

press@globalrecyclingfoundation.org

Belinda Hallworth +44 (0)20 7680 7114  
Radhika Sharma +44 (0)20 7680 7118
Claire Nelson +44 (0)20 7680 7122
Natasha Cobby +44 (0)20 7680 7119
Sophy Norris +44 (0)1392 248 934 or +44 (0)7930 385 849

About the Global Recycling Foundation

The Global Recycling Foundation, formed by BIR in October 2018, supports the promotion of recycling, and the recycling industry, across the world in order to showcase its vital role in preserving the future of the planet.  It will fund Global Recycling Day as well as other educational programmes, awareness projects and innovation initiatives which focus on the sustainable and inclusive development of recycling.  

About BIR

BIR is the global federation of the recycling industry, representing the interests of major recycling companies and national associations from 70 countries worldwide.  A key BIR objective is to promote recycling globally - showcasing its benefits to industry, policy makers and the wider community.

About Nordic Talks

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Finnish Dutch Chamber of Commerce, Norwegian Dutch Chamber of Commerce and the Danish Dutch Business Club organizes annual #NordicTalks Summits since 2013 to highlight a topic of common interest for the Nordic countries, and to give our members the opportunity to meet with the other Nordic business relations in order to enlarge their network. Together we have joined forces to attract interesting speakers who are interested to reach out to the Nordic companies and contacts of the Nordic business associations in the Netherlands.

About the Dutch Waste Management Association

The Dutch Waste Management Association promotes the interests of companies active throughout the whole waste management chain. By uniting the various parties and interests in the chain, the Association has become a key partner in the transition to the circular economy. It stimulates a transition based on closing recycling loops and recovering materials and energy. The Dutch Waste Management Association negotiates with government and other organisations on behalf of its members. In terms of turnover and waste volumes, the Association represents about two-thirds of the Dutch waste market.

About the Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association

The Swedish Recycling Industries' Association (SRI) is an organization of Swedish companies working within the recycling field. The member companies represent the main part of the recycling market in Sweden. The Swedish Recycling Industries' Association was established in 1998 and is a member of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

About the Dutch Recycling Platform

De Dutch Recycling Platform (FHG) is the overarching platform for a large share of the Dutch recycling value chain and represents it on common themes.

About the Dutch Industrial Secondary Raw Materials Association for construction and civil engineering

The most considerable Dutch producers of industrial building materials are united in the Dutch Industrial Secondary Raw Materials Association for construction and civil engineering (VIB). This Association advocates not only the interests of its members, but also acts as conversation partner for policy makers and governments such as ministries, provinces and municipalities. The VIB also contributes to a fair and square imaging regarding the use of industrial building materials and stimulates the responsible re-use of industrial building materials by participating in (international) bodies.