BIR’s ‘One Voice’ sets our vision for global recycling sector

The Bureau of International Recycling has launched a manifesto setting out the industry’s collective vision as a cornerstone of manufacturing, economic resilience and sustainable development.

Announcing the ‘One Voice’ manifesto, BIR says: ‘At a time when governments are redefining industrial policy through the lens of climate neutrality, circular economy and economic security, recycling is no longer a peripheral activity; it is foundational. Recognising this industrial reality is essential for coherent and effective policy making.’

Policy priorities

The five-page document considers the sustainability credentials of recycling, resilient supply chains and the importance of global access to trade.BIR urges policy priorities including recycled content targets, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, innovation, standards, dialogue between regulators and recyclers and design for recycling.

The manifesto argues that Governments and regulators should:

• ensure predictable and proportionate regulatory frameworks that facilitate legitimate trade while effectively targeting illegal practices
• stimulate demand for recycled materials through binding recycled content targets, product design standards and sustainable public procurement
• safeguard competition and transparency in EPR systems
• align trade, environmental and industrial policies to ensure that recycled materials can circulate efficiently across integrated global markets

Need for framework

It concludes: ‘This is a call for smart, coherent and evidence-based regulation that strengthens the common global objective of circularity.

‘By creating an enabling framework that recognises recycled materials as strategic assets and supports their production, use and trade, governments can accelerate decarbonisation, reinforce economic resilience and deliver tangible progress towards a truly circular global economy.’