The European Remanufacturing Council (ERC) aims to provide a “coordinated voice from the leaders of remanufacturing businesses and organisations”.
The Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse (CRR) reported on the plans by the European Commission (EC) for the ERC, which would provide a “coordinated voice from the leaders of remanufacturing businesses and organisations” as part of a two-year project undertaken by the European Remanufacturing Network (ERN). The ERC would “represent large and small organisations from the full range of remanufacturing product sectors”, and be funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project.
In turn, the ERC would aim to “help European remanufacturers maintain global competitiveness by representing the industry’s interests to EU policy makers”, as well as by “carrying out common work that benefits all remanufacturers”. The ERN is currently “scoping out the shape and ambition” of the ERC, and is asking for input from “industry, sectoral trade associations, regional governments and NGOs”.
As part of conversations along these lines, CRR and the ERN believe the council should “focus on EU policy-directed research and lobbying on circular economy themes of direct relevance to the remanufacturing sector”, as well as the “promotion of the public procurement of remanufactured products at EU and member state level”. There will be no membership fee until January2017, after which there would be for corporate members, while associations could join for free.
The main objective of the ERC would be to provide a “focal point for remanufacturing dialogue in Europe”, and representing the industry to policy makers “at-scale, rather than on a sector-by-sector basis”, with opportunities provided to “influence policy by communicating the cross-sector issues and challenges to be tackled”. Also, it would look to advocate “for the support needed to promote the growth” of remanufacturing through the circular economy package.
Among its first activities would be to “play [a] leadership role” in EU policy, discussing issues of “common interest” including standards and procurement, and networking opportunities. In the mid-term meanwhile, the ERC might then have “subcommittees focusing on key issues”, a collection of online tools and resources, and a portal to “connect remanufacturers with partners, suppliers and finance/investors”.
Kestutis Sadauskas, Director General for the Environment at the EC, commented that “the Commission welcomes the work being done on a Remanufacturing Council. There is a clear need to reap the potential of remanufacturing in support of the circular economy”.
Details: http://www.therecycler.com/posts/eu-to-set-up-remanufacturing-council/
