Dutch and Swedish recycling industries supports Global Recycling Foundation

During the Nordic Economy Summit 2019, they pledged their support to the Global Recycling Foundation’s Founding President, Ranjit S. Baxi. The Global Recycling Foundation was established in October 2018 to promote and encourage recycling across the world.

The Dutch waste and recycling associations are supporting the Global Recycling Foundation because they want to contribute to the worldwide structural shift from landfill to recycling. The alliance of the organisations is an initiative of the Dutch Waste Management Association (DWMA). Managing director Robbert Loos commented: ‘’As a partner in the circular economy, for us it is a logical step to join the Global Recycling Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to send a powerful message that recycling must be promoted more effectively worldwide. We hope that many more organisations and countries will join.’’

‘’And promotion and support is urgently needed,’’ continues Loos. ‘’In a recently published report the World Bank has calculated that in the coming decades the generation of municipal solid waste alone is expected to rise from 2 to 3.5 billion tonnes per year. If we do not invest in change now, most of this waste will be landfilled or dumped.’’

‘’The Global Recycling Foundation is an important initiative’’, adds Lina Bergström, CEO of the Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association. ‘’The world must realize that recycling is crucial to combat climate change. Increased recycling and use of recycled raw materials will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The recycling of worn-out products (or as the Foundation has called them, ‘the Seventh Resource’) to new raw materials is one of the most effective measures that can be implemented to reduce our climate impact. That is why recycled raw materials must be demanded to an even greater extent. The Swedish Recycling Industries are working with businesses to accelerate the transition to circular material flows and we will gladly share our best practice and techniques for joint success.’’

In supporting the Global Recycling Foundation, the Swedish and Dutch recycling sectors underline the ambitions of international institutions such as the United Nations, the World Resources Institute and the European Union to speed up the transition to a circular and sustainable economy.

Rob Wiegers, president of the VIB and board member of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) contributed: ‘’The Netherlands can make a broad contribution to raising global awareness of the potential applications of recycled waste materials and the use of industrial by-products. Our knowledge and experience can help accelerate the worldwide transition to a circular economy.’’

Secretary General of the FHG, Hans Koning, underlines that special attention on Global Recycling Day (annually on March 18) for the benefits of recycling in reducing CO2 emissions and saving scarce resources is of great value for creating public and political awareness and support sustainable actions.

Ranijt S. Baxi, Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation: “Today is a milestone moment for the Global Recycling Foundation. It sees international industries coming together to drive global behaviour change towards recycling. Globally, recycling is projected to contribute over $500 billion to global GDP by 2025, providing millions of jobs globally and saving close to 1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030. I strongly believe that recycling, positioned as our vital Seventh Resource, must take centre-stage for its contribution in preserving the future of our planet. The time is now for Global leaders and influencers to recognise the role recycling plays and ensure that the Seventh Resource is promoted more effectively on a global scale.”

Threefold Taekwondo World champion Samira El Idrissi is also teaming up with the four ‘Founding Friends of the Global Recycling Foundation’ as first Ambassador for the Global Recycling Foundation. Samira El Idrissi: “I am honoured to become the first Ambassador. More recycling is very important! The benefits are so obvious. As Ambassador of the Global Recycling Foundation I would like to contribute raising social awareness and local action. The Global Recycling Day is coming soon on the 18th March and I call on the world to participate. Together we win!”