Resource efficiency targets can ‘hinder innovation’

Europe – EU policy-makers would do well to consider the consequences before adopting any resource efficiency targets, Nickel Institute president Dr Kevin Bradley insisted at the 3rd Annual European Raw Materials Conference. Implementation of such measures is likely to ‘hinder innovation’ as well as competitiveness, he told the Brussels event.

According to Bradley, resource efficiency is already ‘common practice’ in the EU metals sector. ‘Saving energy, raw materials, process inputs and enhancing recycling are essential for our member companies to maintain their competitiveness on a global scale,’ he stated.

However, Bradley also underlined the paramount importance of remembering that the EU competes with the USA, China and the rest of the world. ‘We need a global level playing field – not just a European one,’ he said. ‘It is in the interests of European jobs, innovation and competitiveness to ensure that EU policy-makers focus on practical synergies around resource efficiency and competitiveness.’

Trade bodies Eurometaux and Eurofer confirmed these concerns. Both argued that targets based on ‘imperfect indicators’ such as macro-economic data would create a misleading result. The import and production of metals, for example, has increased of late because of the popularity of solar panels and wind turbines, they pointed out.

The European Commission’s environment commissioner Janez Potočnik said that, while existing indicators may have their weaknesses, he hopes to adopt indicators and targets this year as stipulated in the EU’s resource efficiency roadmap.

A final decision has yet to be made on which targets and indicators should be proposed; the environment department expects greater clarity to emerge at a meeting of a high-level, multi-stakeholder advisory group in June.

Source: ENDS Europe