FEVE spotlights circular economy potential

Europe – ‘The time has come to dramatically turn waste into valuable resources as a key pillar of a competitive EU circular economy,’ it was agreed at the recent European Glass Container Federation (FEVE) congress.

Great progress has been made already in implementing the EU 2020 strategy, argued EU policy-makers. On the other hand, additional efforts are required by all stakeholders to ensure that the frequently-used term ‘circular economy’ is ‘not reduced to a trendy social media hash tag’; instead, it should actually reflect the mindset that informs all European and global business models.

The transition to a circular economy is a big opportunity for the entire European economy to ‘get out of deep water’, it was argued. It would help Europe to ‘strengthen and enroot competitiveness’, commented Vittorio Prodi, member of the European Parliament. At difficult times like these, the EU simply could not afford to waste such an opportunity, added FEVE president Stefan Jaenecke.

He called for steps to be taken to support industries that have made ‘great strides in recycling waste as a precious resource’ – such as the container glass sector – and to encourage them to continue to produce in Europe. Calling the manufacturing sector ‘the economic powerhouse’ of the EU, Jaenecke declared: ‘We need to be the frontrunners.’

Focusing on the container glass industry, it was noted that more recycled glass bottles meant more precious resources for new production, less environmental impact, less cost as well as more local direct and indirect jobs. ‘Today, more than 70% of used glass bottles are recycled and the industry’s ambition is to capture inside the production loop the missing 30%,’ Jaenecke stated.

Citing a recent study, he also pointed out that 1.3 local jobs are created along the recycling chain for every job in a glass manufacturing plant. ‘Glass recycling is therefore good for the environment, but also for people and for business,’ he concluded.

For more information, visit: www.feve.org
Source: Packaging Europe