Recycling targets set by the European Commission are ambitious but achievable

In an interview with Mr. Jean-Marc Boursier, president of FEAD, and Group Senior Executive VP in charge of Finance and Northern Europe Recycling & Recovery activities at SUEZ, FEAD explores how he thinks recycling targets can be achieved:

Q: Are the recycling targets in the Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive too ambitious?

JMB: Of course, they are ambitious as their success depends on many external factors. We hear the word recycling a lot, but I would like to emphasise that “recycling” is not something that exists because we say it does. Recycling exists because there is a market that collects material to be recycled and further reincorporated into new products: the private waste management market... (read more)

FEAD's position on Ecodesign: Durability, Reparability & Recyclability

FEAD Issues Position Paper on Ecodesign

 The term “circular economy” has been on everybody’s lips for quite a while now, and while we have a thorough understanding of its meaning; how do we ensure that the transition towards this economic model is a successful one? One of the key factors lies in “ecodesign”. Indeed, a staggering 80 percent of the environmental impact of products is determined at their design stage, and design choices “directly impact the complexity and economics of after-use processes”. In order to fulfil ecodesign criteria, durability, reparability and recyclability requirements need to be established and relations between the manufacturing and the waste and resource industry must be facilitated and intensified.

Given the increasing complexity of consumer goods, FEAD identifies an urgent need to link the impact of ecodesign choices to the complexity and cost-efficiency of their end-of-life treatment. For instance, if technical and economic considerations are taken into account, not all plastic waste is fully recyclable. Having that in mind, there is still an abundance of plastic which is difficult to recycle (e.g. mixed polymers, contaminated plastics, and black plastics). Plastic waste is not a homogeneous material and the possibility to reuse, recycle and recover depends heavily on its composition.

Ecodesign strategies are needed to ensure better coherence between the manufacturing and waste management processes to prevent waste where possible and to increase the quantity and quality of recyclates.

 To ensure the fruition of ecodesign and therefore, of the circular economy; FEAD has issued a positon paper highlighting seven key points for success.

To find out more, click here.

FEAD is Looking for a Policy Trainee!

Are you interested in working in the heart of Brussels and being involved in the frontline policy action of the trade association representing the private waste management industry? Then look no further! FEAD is looking for Environment/Waste-related Issues Policy Trainee to start in May 2019. The internship is remunerated and would be for a period of 6 months! Interested? Read all about it here and send us your application to recruitment@fead.be by March 29!

FEAD Press Release - April 2018

FEAD welcomes the EP draft own-initiative report on the Plastics Strategy

FEAD members welcome the publication of the draft own-initiative report on a European strategy for plastics in a circular economy by rapporteur MEP Mark Demesmaeker as a step forward for designing a new vision for plastics as part of the transition to a circular economy. In view of the foreseen consideration of the draft report this week in the ENVI committee, FEAD would like to draw the attention of the MEPs to crucial points for the private waste and resource management industry.

A strong demand for recycled plastics will only result from concrete binding actions, accompanied by economic measures to bridge the price gap detrimental to plastics from recyclates.

Find more in our press release, available here. 

FEAD Press Release - April 2018

FEAD welcomes the progress made to pave the way for the transition to a circular economy

Following the adoption by the European Parliament of the final agreement on the Circular Economy Package, FEAD members welcome the progress made to pave the way for the transition to a circular economy.

The private waste and resource management industry welcomes the legally binding targets, as a necessary push towards better collection and sorting of waste.

For more information, please click here.

FEAD Press Release - November 2017

FEAD calls for EU-wide mandatory GPP criteria for plastic products

FEAD members welcome the non-legislative Public Procurement Package : “Increasing the impact of public investment through efficient and professional procurement” and support the Commission’s continued efforts to ensure that the public procurement rules are properly implemented across the internal market. FEAD believes that public procurement, and in particular GPP–green public procurement, is one of the tools that can contribute to the transition from a linear to a circular economy.

For more information, please click here