Circular Economy - International green deal with France, Flanders and the United

International green deal with France, Flanders and UK launches 'North Sea Resource Roundabout' project.

Read comments from all the main players.

 

Ségolène Royal, French Minister of Environment, Energy and the Marine Affairs , responsible for International Climate Relations for France

A new Act on Energy Transition and Green Growth was passed in August 2015.  The purpose of this transition is to update the French energy model and help to combat climate change, as well as better implementing circular economy at the national level. This goal requires clearer and easier processes for industrials as they strive to recycle and reuse more materials. In this respect, I welcome the signing of the North Sea Resources Roundabout, and I trust that this Agreement will help enhance dialogue at the international level, associating both representatives of the industrial sector and policymakers, to upscale the use of secondary raw materials and create sustainable jobs in Europe. This will also contribute greatly to the limitation of GHG emissions and to enforce the commitments taken at COP21.


Emmanuel Macron, Minister for the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, says

In the framework of our industrial policy, the National Council of Industry encourages the emergence of voluntary agreements for developing a circular economy. These agreements are carried out in 14 industry strategic committees in order to develop a more efficient industry by enhancing and promoting green approaches and processes, especially in the field of the use of secondary resources.

In this respect and as we are implementing the proven “Green Deal” instrument in France, I welcome the signing of the North Sea Resources Roundabout, and I trust that this Agreement will facilitate the use of secondary raw materials by taking away barriers in a transnational setting and the emergence of a strong secondary material market in Europe.

Being among the frontrunners brings us more quickly towards a circular economy model that will contribute to more economic and environmental benefits.


Minister Schauvliege, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Agriculture

Flanders is one of the top recyclers in Europe. We prove that circular economy makes better use of our limited resources and creates more and better jobs. This initiative will contribute to creating better markets for secondary resources on a European scale. We know that by engaging governmental and non governmental stakeholders in an intensive dialogue you get a better common understanding of the problem and a solution that is supported by all parties. That is why we join this initiative



Ray Georgeson, Chief Executive of the Resource Association (UK)

The North Sea Resources Roundabout initiative has the potential to unlock barriers that hamper the flow of secondary resources across Europe without endangering the environment.  With the prospect of encouraging investment in a more circular economy in Europe and generating a good spirit of partnership across borders, we warmly welcome it and congratulate the Dutch Government on taking this important initiative so far so quickly.


Mr H. D. Post, director Groningen Sea Ports

Groningen Seaports supports with great enthusiasm this initiative, which enables private companies to invest safely towards a circular economy.

 

Ton van der Giessen, Managing Director van Werven Plastic Recycling

PVC recycling in the EU has the potential to prevent millions tons of CO2 emissions per year, give a safe second live to a potential volume of 100 million tons used PVC material and could create jobs in the EU for 8.000 persons. Unexpected legal barriers threaten the continuity and growth of PVC recycling. For us the International Green Deal on the North Sea Resources Roundabout provides the frontrunners in PVC recycling with a platform and the right stakeholders to exchange the environmental and economical facts and dramatically speed up time to explore potential solution for the barriers experienced
 
Marc Kapteijn, CEO Twence

Twence recognises the international need for organics fertilisers and is delighted that compost has been accepted as a Netherland-UK pilot flow in the North Sea Resources Roundabout. We hope that this will open possibilities for further international cooperation and contribute to solving the shortage of organic fertilers. This International Green Deal supports Twence in its efforts to close the loop for nutrients."

 

Sue Armstrong Brown, Policy Director, Green Alliance

Green Alliance is proud to support the North Sea Resource Roundabout initiative. From the very beginning, we have supported its innovative approach to the problem of different interpretations of waste regulations in different countries, which prevents businesses from investing to pursue export opportunities and increases our reliance on primary resources. By working together, the countries involved in the North Sea Resource Roundabout will act as pioneers in addressing a major barrier to scaling up the circular economy and set an example that the rest of the EU can follow.

 

Thierry Mallet, Executive Vice President in charge of Innovation, Business Performance and Marketing SUEZ

The North Sea Resources Roundabout is the first milestone towards the creation of a dynamic market for secondary resources in Europe. It is a decisive initiative to take away regulatory barriers and explore the full potential of the Single Market in the transition towards a circular economy.

 

Marc Zwaaneveld, CEO van Gansewinkel

At Van Gansewinkel we look at today’s products as the temporary storage combination of valuable raw materials. At the ‘end-of-life’ stage of a product, we need to ensure that their building blocks are recovered. To realize this we partner with other companies. By collaborating within this Green Deal North Sea Resource Roundabout with partners we focus at closing specific product cycles and work together towards a more circular economy. Van Gansewinkel closes the circle from waste to raw materials. We make sustainability tangible by recovering scarce raw materials and resupplying them as the ingredients for new products. Our aspiration is to enter into long-term collaborative partnerships so as to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy, with tangible objectives and new revenue models.

 

Richard van Delden, Executive Director Supply Chain & Operations

Wavin supports the International Green Deal approach because it empowers us to realize new and ambitious developments that contribute to environmental benefits (Green Growth) and will enable us to differentiate with a range of truly sustainable products (green Products) which our customers are requesting, based on voluntary, bottom up initiatives”

 

Werner Annaert, Director FEBEM-FEGE

Belgium is a top region in the field of recycling of waste and in the field of logistics.  With its harbors Belgium has an important asset to be the roundabout for the recycling of resources in Europe. The Belgian recycling companies, members of FEBEM-FEGE take a lot of initiatives to improve the recycling of waste and the recovery of resources.  More and more production plants invest to use recycled materials as a source of new products.  So that's why FEBEM-FEGE wants to support this international Green Deal.  In that way we can further internationalise our policy of material recycling and the role that our members can play.

 

Pieter Hofstra, chairman Dutch Waste Management Association

The Dutch Waste Management Association expects this Green Deal will boost the European market for secondary raw materials and so stimulate green growth. The initiative which the North Sea countries have taken to streamline waste legislation can benefit other member states as well. We believe in this bottom-up approach.

 

Laurent Auguste, Senior Executive Vice President Innovation & Markets VEOLIA

Europe offers the perfect environment for a circular economy to truly take shape but this will require pioneer moves and true leadership. The smart rebound of the European economy will be boosted by game changing strategies, breaking the paradigms prevailing since the XXth century. In this perspective, the North Sea Resource Roundabout represents a right platform to foster innovative models and an efficient secondary resources market.

 

Wilson De Pril, Director General of Agoria Flanders

The Green Deal on the North Sea Resources Roundabout is for Agoria an innovative and effective way forward to harmonize interpretations between Member States in order to facilitate the access to raw materials for recycling in a move towards the circular economy.’
 

 


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