European recycling groups part of financing discussion

Three Brussels-based recycling-related organizations have been selected by the European Commission as part of a group of 28 people or institutions to comprise a new EU Platform on Sustainable Finance.

The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC), the European Waste Management Association (FEAD) and Plastic Recyclers Europe (PRE) jointly have been designated to serve a two-year term to the new body. The organizations say they applied jointly to be part of the platform “through the European Alliance for Sustainable Finance in waste management & recycling (EASF).”

While EuRIC was the only association previously represented on the platform, the joint selection of EuRIC, FEAD and PRE through the EASF “means more resources will be available to support a science-based implementation of the [EU} Taxonomy Regulation, which directs investments toward the most sustainable activities,” the groups say.

“Being appointed as a member of the Platform on Sustainable Finance is a great honor and a recognition of the instrumental role played by the waste management and recycling industry to achieve the environmental objectives set out in the sustainable finance framework,” EuRIC board member Daniel Houska says.

“Over the following two years of mandate as a platform member, the EASF that EuRIC founded together with FEAD and PRE looks forward to providing credible and science-based advice, taking advantage of our broad industrial expertise and robust experience gained on sustainable finance for years," Houska adds.

FEAD President Claudia Mensi adds, “The waste management sector plays a pivotal role in achieving the EU’s climate goals. For this reason, the selection of the EASF, of which FEAD is a founding member, is a strong signal that the inclusion of the industry in the process of developing the criteria and eventually on delivering on the aims of the EU Taxonomy Regulation is essential.”

“The platform will drive the transition towards the circular economy, and plastic recycling is one of the key solutions to achieving that,” PRE President Ton Emans says. “Being part of the platform gives us a voice to further accelerate the industry’s progress toward achieving higher recycling rates and to increasing the use of recycled plastic.”