The circular bioeconomy was the focus of a meeting held on 26 September in Brussels between the Spanish Presidency of the Eu Council and a coalition of European trade associations (representing 20 per cent of Eu manufacturing companies). A hot topic that – they explained – could enable a more “…strategically autonomous, resilient and competitive Europe, while at the same time helping the Eu navigate through global challenges, climate change and a move away from fossils“.
During the event, Alberto Ruiz, counsellor for industry at the permanent representation of Spain to the Eu, highlighted industrial competitiveness and innovation as the priorities of the Spanish Eu Presidency. Ruiz noted that the green transition can be driven by new industrial models, should be fair and must put citizens at the centre of it.
“Sustainability is not optional; it is not a nice-to-have anymore, it is a need-to-have” stated Epf Managing Board Member and Unilin Panels ceo Veronique Hoflack. “Transforming waste into raw materials has been part of our history and is in our DNA. We never accept the status quo and today our particleboards consist of a staggering 95 percent recycled wood, a symbol of what’s possible when we challenge ourselves”.
Ilkka Hämälä, Cepi chairman and CEO of Metsä Group, stated: “I am proud of what the Circular Choices Coalition represents, we are a coalition of believers bringing together 20 EU trade associations to develop an open cross-sectoral cooperation. Our promise is for our sectors to mitigate carbon emissions in the EU to the equivalent of at least 30 percent of EU fossil emissions by 2030, if EU policy decisions are made to support this direction”. Hämälä underlined that to achieve the industry’s targets, “attention to legislative coherence across the different policy areas as well as to the cumulative impacts of EU regulations is key”.
Hans Ingels, Head of Bioeconomy Unit in Dg Grow concluded: “The EU Bioeconomy Strategy is key in achieving the EU Green Deal’s objectives. It is important that we work together with the industry to deliver to the next generations a new societal and economic model that is based on the circular use of biological and renewable resources”.
“The EU Green Deal’s success is intricately tied to manufacturing, and our coalition holds the key to shaping the next Commission’s priorities. Let’s seize this opportunity”, Director General at Cepi Jori Ringman concluded.
