Abderaman El Aoufir: Derichebourg Group is listed in the Paris stock market but controlled and managed by the DERICHEBOURG family. The group was founded in 1956, operating in 13 countries, mainly in Europe. In 2024, the Group produced above 5 million tons of recycled metals (steel, copper, aluminium, brass, stainless steel, zinc, etc.), backed by a dense territorial network of 280 collection and recycling facilities.

These new recycled materials are used in the steel and metal industries. They contribute towards the carbon neutrality targets, while promoting European independence in terms of strategic resources required to enable the green transition.

At the heart of the circular economy, Derichebourg’s know-how enables it to serve its many partners (industries, businesses, local authorities, EPR schemes, private individuals), serving both the economy and the ecological transition.

Regarding extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, Derichebourg has a long-standing expertise, since 2006, in the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), with more than 15 dedicated plants in Europe.

ICM: What is the importance of the automotive market for your activity?

Abderaman El Aoufir: End-of-life vehicle recycling is a major activity for the Group, with 650 000 tonnes of ELVs recycled in 2024, through more than 200 recycling plants in the EU, implying green jobs, huge investments and innovative technologies.

Derichebourg is a major player at EU level in ELV recycling, particularly in France, Spain and Belgium, through recycling plants equipped with dedicated technologies capable of producing high-level recycled materials. The ongoing improvement of the industrial process enables the Group to reach the mandatory recycling and recovery rates targets of respectively 85 % and 95 %.

ICM: What are the key challenges to achieving circularity in this market and how are you addressing them?

Abderaman El Aoufir: Achieving circularity in the field of ELVs requires for instance a much higher uptake of recycled plastics in new cars put on the market. For now, the draft End-of-Life Regulation (ELVR) proposed by the European Commission sets targets for recycled plastic content (25%), including in closed loops (25%). However, Derichebourg Environnement is highly concerned by the draft report of the European Parliament’s rapporteurs, with much less ambitious goals (20% for the global recycled plastic content, and 15% for the closed-loop target). Watering-down the targets for recycled content for plastics would directly threaten investments and jobs that would make automotive more circular.

If the ELVR evolves towards a less ambitious mindset, the foreseen 30% recycling targets for plastics will never be reachable, and landfill or incineration of plastics will have to continue, at the detriment of circularity and reduction of waste.

On a more core-business issue, Derichebourg is testing technologies to increase the uptake of recycled steel from ELVs in the flat steel production which mainly relies currently on iron ore, in a complementary way to the long steel production through electric-arc furnaces (EAF, consuming a high rate of recycled steel). Indeed, flat steel is used by the car industry, which still has a lot of progress to make to raise the use of recycled steel in its processes. Derichebourg also continuously improves the quality of recycled aluminium and copper to meet the evolving requirements of the downstream customers.

ICM: You are hosting the plant tour at IARC 2025 to your new copper recycling facility in Northern France, what will our delegates visit?

Abderaman El Aoufir: This brand-new recycling facility is designed to recycle waste electrical cables from end-of-life vehicles, electrical and electronic equipment, demolition of buildings, or digital and telecommunications networks. This new plant was supported by the French Recovery Plan after the Covid crisis, focusing on projects in critical sectors and aiming at the reindustrialisation of Europe.

At a time when copper is on the list of critical and strategic materials in the European Critical Raw Material (CRM) Act, this industrial plant produces recycled copper for downstream industries, in the form of granules reaching 99,9% purity. This dedicated plant manages to separate the copper from the plastic which composes the cables, thanks to a sophisticated industrial process including shredders, granulators, sorting machines relying on optic sensors, density and water tables.

ICM: How is Derichebourg positioned to benefit from the opportunities of the recycling market and why should customers work with you?

Abderaman El Aoufir: “Added value throughout the cycle, from waste collection to the production of high-quality recycled materials”

Derichebourg offers industrial-scale solutions for waste owners and waste management operators, with a high-level of technical expertise, a perfect knowledge of the global market and environmental regulations.

Derichebourg has historically been present through the whole value chain of metal recycling, be it through its very dense network of industrial plants which offers proximity to the end-users, or its large range of recycling technologies able to recycle complex mixed metal waste from various waste streams, such as municipal waste, industrial waste, construction and demolition waste. On lead batteries and aluminium, the Group is fully vertically integrated with its own refineries, in France and Spain, enabling the production of ingots, for a fully circular economy.

The Derichebourg Family has a long-term vision for the recycling industry, constantly looking to the future, developing technologies based on state-of-the-art techniques, which anticipate the increasingly complex recycling of future waste. In 2024, the Group invested nearly 200 million euros, mainly in ultra-efficient new recycling capacities and technologies, and has planned to invest 175 million euros in 2025.

ICM: How positive are you for the potential of this market (in Europe) for Derichebourg?

Abderaman El Aoufir: For the long term, Derichebourg is very confident in its business model with many projects aiming at switching blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, hence an increasing demand for high-quality recycled steel. Additionally, the development of electric cars will also increase the demand for high-quality aluminium and copper.

Having said that, we are facing a critical issue:  the need to tackle illegal export outside of the EU, of non-treated ELVs, under the cover of used vehicles. Controls of exports of whole vehicles is a key issue to stop exporting unroadworthy vehicles.

More globally, we remain convinced that the recycling industry has a key role to play in a context of decarbonisation and ecological transition.

About IARC

24 years of shaping the Future of Vehicle Circularity!
The International Automotive Recycling Congress IARC is the leading global platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration in the vehicle circular economy. Now in its 24th year, IARC connects industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to advance sustainable vehicle recycling and prepare these industries for a sustainable future

ICM: Can you tell us about TSR’s core business

Marc Affüpper: With revenues of around €5 billion per year and around 4.500 employees, TSR belongs to one of the biggest metal recycling companies worldwide. It has been active in Europe since 1890 and today belongs to the family-owned Remondis Group based in Lünen, Germany. The Group’s main activities include recovering raw materials from waste and developing innovative recycled products.

ICM: What is the importance of WEEE Recycling for TSR overall?

Marc Affüpper: We know that the future demand for secondary raw materials will grow significantly over the next few years. Limited global resources in combination with the need for a reduction of CO2 emissions will oblige industry to drastically reduce its consumption of primary raw materials. Unfortunately the availability of recycled materials is not predicted to grow significantly so we will face a huge deficit, and in consequence the sourcing of secondary raw material-containing waste will be key to many businesses’ future success.

TSR is traditionally strong in sourcing and processing metal-containing waste such as municipal scrap, car bodies, demolition scrap and metal-rich production scrap. WEEE contains a huge amount of metals as well and is a globally growing waste stream. We have the experience and the technical expertise to process this stream, guaranteeing an efficient depollution and recovery of the metals and other valuable content. The metals are separated and upgraded as required in a defined way in order to generate suitable recycled raw products for our strategic customers, so increasing their recycled content year on year.

Our group is also benefitting from a huge amount of synergies in our processes. The steel and metal origin of our traditional infeed is often the same as that from WEEE, there are similarities in the logistics and mechanical processes, and intermediate qualities of both processes can be upgraded in similar sites before delivery to the steelworks of smelters.

ICM: What makes WEEE-Recycling at TSR extraordinary compared to other recycling companies?

Marc Affüpper: TSR was founded in1890 so is a recycling company with a very long tradition. With a presence in many European countries it is one of the few recyclers who are able to source the needed volumes of metal-containing waste to operate huge and complex recycling processes at competitive costs. If a car manufacturer or a white goods manufacturer decides to have a defined percentage of recycling content in all of its products, the amount of recycled raw material required will be huge. The challenge is to have the necessary volumes of a specific quality of material available at any time. This will be a game-changer for those recyclers who are involved in strategic cooperation with OEMs from the electronic goods or the automotive sectors. The importance and the complexity of the supply chain will take on a much greater importance than we are used to in today’s recycling world.  TSR is ready and prepared for this new dimension of circularity.

ICM: How innovative are the TSR processes used for WEEE-Recycling?

Marc Affüpper:  Within TSR there are several different technologies in use. We operate 11 sites in Europe processing in total more than 400.000t/a of WEEE. Our technicians have developed a lot of know- how. In Lünen for example we have been operating a new fridge recycling line since 2022, producing very clean metal and plastic fractions and achieving great recovery rates for CFCs. Our new TSR shredder line in Duisburg was inaugurated in 2023. It is equipped with state of the art air cleaning systems and able to produce TSR 40. This is a secondary raw material for the steel industry with clearly defined criteria and allows steel works to significantly increase the recycled content of their products, saving natural resources and immediately reducing the CO2 footprint.

ICM: How does TSR see the near future for the recycling business with view to the experiences of the recent years and developments we face today?

Marc Affüpper: Due to the need for a reduced CO2 footprint and globally limited resources, we are seeing much more serious interest in our services and cooperation from raw material producers and manufacturers. We are convinced that this is a sustainable development and that the recycling industry in total will be much more in focus in future.

It is now up to us as a business sector to keep on developing and improving on what we are doing. But it is also up to the legislators to ensure that the appropriate legal framework is put in place in order to keep up the momentum. From the past we know that in a weak economy, ecology and sustainability are not the first priorities unless there is a legal demand for it. Legislators can influence these developments to a certain extent by giving clear guidance to industry and consumers, enabling us to continue developing innovative, more circular processes with the same dynamic as in recent years.

Conferences like IERC are a chance to send out these key messages and to communicate to all stakeholders. This is why we like to join this traditional conference once a year.

Clemens Kitzberger: EREMA Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of plastics recycling solutions. The EREMA Group stands for a plastics industry that takes responsibility for resources. In order to implement the declared goal of the Circular Economy within the plastics industry, the group covers a broad portfolio. The members of the EREMA Group provide the entire spectrum of mechanical plastics recycling – from the planning and engineering of recycling technologies to washing and drying as well as the production of system components and trading in used systems. Supported by subsidiaries in the USA, China and Africa, and a worldwide network of representatives, around 8,500 recycling systems are currently in operation in more than 110 countries worldwide recycling around 25 million tonnes of plastic every year.

ICM: You are hosting the plant tour at IERC 2025, what will our delegates visit?

Clemens Kitzberger: We are pleased to welcome the delegates to our headquarters in Ansfelden near Linz. Here, we develop, produce and implement tailor-made recycling solutions for the processing of plastics in the post-consumer, in-house, bottle-to-bottle and fibre sectors. Our product portfolio is on display in our Customer Centre, giving visitors an insight into the different technologies and the specifics of each application. They can also see a selection of products made with recyclates from our machines. From lifestyle products such as backpacks to toys as well as films and beverage bottles. Delegates will also have the opportunity to see how our machines are manufactured. Machines and components for plastics recycling are produced on more than 10,000 m² at the Ansfelden site.

ICM: How have your recent innovations and strategic initiatives positioned your company to effectively navigate and leverage growth opportunities in this expanding market?

Clemens Kitzberger: Our vision is that the circular economy for plastics will be a reality by 2030. As EREMA Group, we are and will continue to be the driving force in achieving this goal. Innovation is the key to competitiveness and is also what makes Austrian and European companies stand out internationally. The EREMA Group has invested heavily in research and development in recent years. Our advanced technologies and recycling solutions help to close the loop and set standards in the industry. For example, our INTAREMA® TVEplus® DuaFil® Compact, which, thanks to its compact design and finest double filtration, raises recycled pellet quality and energy efficiency even further – including in particularly challenging applications. Further examples are our COREMA® technology for recycling and compounding in a single processing step, or our high-precision melt filters. Some of these recycling systems are in use to process waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for applications in the electronics and automotive sectors. We also focus on comprehensive service offerings and digital solutions to provide our customers with the best possible support for their individual requirements.

ICM: You are hosting the plant tour at ICBR24, what will our delegates visit?
Jodok Reinhardt: At the date of ICBR24 LIBREC will be in ramp-up for commercial go-live by 1. of October 2024 (SOP). Our guests will see a modern plant full of innovation: facility layout, material handling, storage and discharging are designed from scratch and allow unseen efficiency and safety. Black-mass production, ultimately, is the core of LIBREC’s competence and you will be introduced in a new combination of processes and equipment that has not been used in the recycling industry before and that allows for highest material recovery and lowest impurities in the black-mass. The applied process consumes less than 250kWh per ton of processed material and energy demand is covered by a large own photovoltaic power plant, power discharged from batteries and waterpower from the Swiss grid. All in all, the fully authorized site delivers lowest cost per recovered material, and last but not least, EMPA has performed a Life Cycle Analysis and identified the CO2-footprint of LIBREC’s process to produce black-mass at a record-low 10 to 40 kilogram CO2-equivalents per ton of processed battery materials.

ICM: How is the battery recycling industry evolving, and how is LIBREC AG positioning itself to remain competitive and innovative in the coming years?

Jodok Reinhardt: LIBREC keeps improving the efficiency of all processes with an immediate focus in the next 2 years on automation of battery dismantling, efficient processing of cell-to-pack battery systems and optimizing black-mass characteristics for hydrometallurgical refining and direct recycling. Our goal is to be number 1 in cost per recovery, CO2-footprint, reliability, and safety by continuous learning, research, and design. Based on a best-in-class performance in pre-treatment, LIBREC considers providing a capacity in Europe that can be invested in and/or utilized by all partners in the eco-system, such as cell producers, car manufacturers, refining companies and producers of pCAM and CAM from all continents. Such a co-operation allows volume bundling and lowest cost per ton to the benefit of all participants. We call it “LIBREC platform”. For now, it’s just a concept, but we have interesting discussions.

SIPBB comprises four specialized research centers:

– Swiss Smart Factory (SSF): This is Switzerland’s first test and demonstration factory focusing on Industry 4.0, offering a platform for businesses, particularly SMEs, to explore and implement new technologies in smart manufacturing.

– Swiss Healthtech Center (SHTC): Facilitates interdisciplinary projects in medical and health technology, bringing together researchers, medical professionals, and industry experts.

– Swiss Advanced Manufacturing Center (SAMC): Focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies, particularly metal additive manufacturing with lasers.

– Swiss Battery Technology Center (SBTC): Offers comprehensive system development for energy storage solutions, understanding the ageing behavior of batteries and solutions for upstream processes in battery recycling.

ICM: You are hosting a part of the plant tour at ICBR24, what will our delegates visit?
Christian Ochsenbein:

Visitors can explore two laboratories within the Swiss Battery Technology Center:

The Battery De-Manufacturing Lab and the Battery Testing Lab. In the Battery De-Manufacturing Lab, we research solutions for the automatic dismantling of EV batteries. Meanwhile, the Battery Testing Lab offers insights into battery aging processes, SoC and SoH algorithm, and strategies to extend battery life. Additionally, we investigate how batteries can be effectively operated in their second life.

ICM: How is the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB) contributing to the advancement of battery technology and sustainability, and what are the key initiatives at the Swiss Battery Technology Center aimed at enhancing recycling rates and safety?
Christian Ochsenbein:

We are currently working primarily on the non-destructive automatic dismantling of EV batteries. Our aim is to use artificial intelligence to dismantle batteries with robots. We are using Reinforcement Learning (RL) and the Metaverse to train the dismantling activities. RL, a machine learning method, allows robots to learn by performing actions and receiving feedback, improving through trial and error to maximize rewards. This approach enables robots to autonomously develop skills for dismantling EV battery core components, making them adaptable to dynamic, unstructured environments. Unlike traditional programming, RL fosters flexibility, essential for tasks like unscrewing parts, removing connectors, and handling high-voltage cables. Combining RL with computer vision (CV) and simulations ensures robust training for detecting and interacting with battery parts. By focusing on frequent dismantling tasks, we aim to generalize our methods across various EV battery types, addressing feasibility concerns and ensuring real-world applicability.

ICM: Please present the activities of Belgian Scrap Terminal NV in a few words.

Caroline Craenhals:

Belgian Scrap Terminal boasts a rich heritage spanning over a century, originating from the vision of my great-grandfather and steadfastly remaining within the family’s stewardship ever since. As the fourth-generation custodian, I take immense pride in upholding our tradition of excellence in the recycling sector, whilst never stopping exploring new recycling techniques.

The Belgian Scrap Terminal Group stands for high-quality recycling. We are a Belgian family company in heart and soul, active at various locations in Western Europe. At the forefront of our industry, Belgian Scrap Terminal annually processes over one million tons of metal. We bring mountains of scrap back into the economic cycle as raw materials. In an era where recycling is imperative for both individuals and businesses, Belgian Scrap Terminal has devoted a century to pioneering "Urban Mining" as our core mission.

Through innovative methodologies, we meticulously extract and recycle both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, refining them into top-tier raw materials primed for reintroduction into the economy. Our annual accomplishments translate into staggering figures, equivalent to the weight of two Golden Gate Bridges or 200 Eiffel Towers, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to sustainable resource management. Aligned with the steel industry, Belgian Scrap Terminal assumes a pivotal role in the global transition towards green practices, safeguarding the finite resources of our planet and striving to illuminate a path towards a brighter future for forthcoming generations.

ICM: You are hosting the plant tour at IARC24, what will our delegates visit?

Caroline Craenhals:

At BST, we boast an urban mining facility, extracting valuable raw materials from waste. As you enter our plants in Antwerp and Willebroek, you’ll embark on a fascinating journey through time, where you will witness how goods from two decades ago are ingeniously repurposed into fresh raw materials within a mere hour. During the visit, we’ll delve into our world where advanced recycling techniques transform used ferrous and non-ferrous materials into top-quality raw materials.

ICM: How does BST navigate regulatory compliance and leverage recycled content, particularly with regulations like the End of Life Vehicles directive?  

Caroline Craenhals:

As a recycling leader, Belgian Scrap Terminal (BST) occupies a unique position: we are time travelers, pioneers and the canary in the coal mine simultaneously.

As time travelers, we innovate and adapt, bridging the gap between past challenges and future solutions. By leveraging our expertise and embracing emerging technologies, we ensure that every vehicle’s end-of-life journey contributes to a sustainable circular economy. Our commitment to continuous improvement and environmental stewardship drives us to transform these challenges into opportunities, shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

As pioneers, we steer towards a sustainable future, emphasizing responsible practices. Balancing economic viability with ecological sustainability is key in our recycling investments, requiring careful consideration of costs and benefits. Through rigorous analysis, we align investments with profitability while preparing for regulations like the End of Life Vehicles EU Directive. Our impressive 97% recycling rate reflects the transformation from the unimaginable to the norm over the past quarter-century.

As the canary in the coal mine, we serve as the early indicator of economic shifts: slowdowns translate into reduced volumes for us. Consumers hold onto their vehicles and appliances for longer periods, and high interest rates dampen construction activity, resulting in diminished construction waste.

ICM: How does BST address challenges of resource scarcity and strategic autonomy in metal recycling, particularly through urban mining?

Caroline Craenhals:

Contemporary discourse revolves around challenges like climate change and strategic autonomy, particularly in raw material-dependent sectors. Europe’s self-sufficiency in critical resources like battery components and steel is under scrutiny amidst global dependencies and geopolitical shifts. Instead of pursuing new mining ventures, urban mining offers a potent ‚close-the-loop‘ alternative by utilizing waste streams for valuable resources. This approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also enhances strategic autonomy and resource security. Urban mining emerges as a crucial solution amid global scarcity and geopolitical tensions, positioning us as pivotal players in addressing challenges like resource scarcity, energy independence, climate action, and protectionism. By integrating urban mining with traditional mining practices, solutions lie within our grasp. Moreover, the notion that there is no need to fear resource shortages because everything is available underscores the potential of this approach.

ICM: How should the automotive and recycling sector adapt to evolving regulations and technological advancements while ensuring its competitive position in the global market?

Caroline Craenhals:

As we stand on the brink of innovation and progress in the recycling sector, it’s clear that we possess a wealth of knowledge and insights. AI integration is becoming increasingly vital, such as the global competition and the influx of Chinese cars into Europe, each with distinct batteries and economic models. Every technological advancement and piece of information represents a puzzle piece in the global scheme of sustainable development. While we may not yet see the full picture, collaborative efforts and dedicated research and innovation will help assemble the puzzle of a more sustainable future. Let’s unite our expertise and resources to complete this puzzle, paving the way for a greener, more environmentally conscious world.

ICM: Please give us an overview of the Stellantis Group’s Circular Economy strategy?

Alison Jones:
Stellantis’ Circular Economy business unit is one of the seven business units highlighted by Stellantis in its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan. The business, which is based on our 4R strategy – Reman, Repair, Reuse and Recycle – has ambitious objectives which will contribute greatly to the Company’s overall ambition to reach its carbon net zero target by 2038. Our Circular Economy business is growing and Stellantis is investing; for example in November 2023, we inaugurated our first Circular Economy Hub in our Mirafiori plant in Turin in Italy, an excellence centre aimed at industrialising the recovery and sustainable reuse of parts and materials. The Circular Economy business has a key role in the Group’s future success.

ICM: You were appointed Senior Vice President, Global Circular Economy Business Unit of Stellantis in June 2022. How do you approach this new role after your career in many different disciplines in the automotive industry? (VW, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep_, Peugeot, Managing Director UK PSA Group …)

Alison Jones:
My 30 years in strategic and operational roles with many different automotive brands and economic environments have given me a good overview of where this industry is going and helped prepare me for this critical next step. Being in charge of all aspects of Circular Economy for the Group worldwide requires a cradle-to-grave approach, which covers working with the designers and engineers to support design for circular economy, gaining access to materials – the return of used parts is fundamental in this business – material flow, sales and e-commerce, manufacturing, spare parts, the 4Rs, working with the dismantling network and customers of course. Customer service and focus remains a top priority.

ICM: Tell us more about the 4 Rs – Reman, Repair, Reuse, Recycle, how is Stellantis different?

Alison Jones:
Remanufacturing is the principal pillar in the 4R strategy in Circular Economy and is where we concentrate much of our innovation. Our target is to reach 40% of recycled and bio-sourced material content by 2030. To help us achieve this we are creating partnerships; in Europe last year we created a joint venture with the Galloo group, SUSTAINera VALORAUTO, to offer a comprehensive solution for the take-back and recycling of end-of-life vehicles. An example in Recycling is the signed Memorandum of Understanding with Orano for a future joint venture for the recycling of EV batteries in Europe and North America and to gain access to the value chain of EV battery materials. In our Mirafiori plant in Turin we have developed a disused part of the factory into an excellence centre using reconditioned equipment. We have retrained our staff to make remanufactured parts because this business requires a different skill set from the traditional automotive manufacturing model. Old material is sorted, dissambled and cleaned, and reconditioned spare parts for the remanufacturing of engines, gearboxes, and high-voltage EV batteries, as well as full vehicle reconditioning and dismantling are all engineered on site. We are also extending the life of our products, designing for the future and staying one step ahead of legislative changes. 

ICM: How will the Circular Economy shape the future of Stellantis?

Alison Jones:
The Circular Economy is very positive for the future of our Group. It takes many forms and drives innovation and change, the first one being a culture change, and this is well underway in the Group already. But above all it has to be profitable and contribute to a sustainable future for the Group.

The Circular Economy business unit has plans for growth and expansion and the target is to reach more than €2 billion in revenues by 2030 as part of the Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan and decarbonisation target of carbon net zero by 2038. We are on track to deliver this, and to continue to position Stellantis as the reference for sustainable and affordable automotive parts in the years to come.

A major change is operating in the world of vehicle recycling.

Come to meet the global automotive recycling industry and automotive OEMs in Antwerp,

June 19 – 21, 2024.

The 23rd edition of the IARC is taking place in a context of important change for the automotive recycling industry. The EU Commission Proposal for a Regulation on End-of-Life vehicles was published in the summer of 2023. A public consultation allowed stakeholders to comment on the proposal until early December 2023. What will be the position of the EU Council and the EU Parliament in the course of 2024? What is going to be the final outcome for the industry?

As other regions in the world are looking closely at this development, this will be the priority issue for discussion during IARC 2024. Of interest to all stakeholders and operators in the automotive circular economy value chain. The quality of the keynote speakers at IARC 2024 is once again proof that IARC is the main forum for the key players in the automotive recycling space to come together and work on the way to create a sustainable industry for all stakeholders.

Alison Jones, Senior Vice President Global Circular Economy, Stellantis says:

“Stellantis is building a sustainable and profitable business based on Circular Economy principles in the markets where we operate. We have skilled colleagues and trusted partners tackling our current activities and product offer, which are identified by the SUSTAINera label and managed by the dedicated Circular Economy business unit.  We are developing the principles of ‘Design for Circular Economy’.  Then throughout the full vehicle life cycle, we have developed a comprehensive 360-degree business model based on the 4R Strategy: Remanufacturing, Repair and Reuse to extend the lifespan of parts, vehicles and HVBs as much as possible, and then recycle to reduce waste by returning material into the production loop. We are scaling up with an intense rigour, building our capabilities, teams, and facilities, while creating a smart, integrated ecosystem to better manage material scarcity and our drive to carbon net zero”.

Werner Annaert, General Director, OVAM Public Waste Agency of Flanders states:

 “OVAM has always been a pioneer for a greener mobility life cycle. With the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, we want to make significant progress in discussing the proposed 3R and ELV regulation. We are convinced that this will pave the way for a greener, more efficient future.”

Luc Arnouts Vice President Port of Antwerp-Bruges adds:

“The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the largest car handling port in the world, for both new and second-hand cars, and looks at the total lifecycle of the cars, trucks and heavy equipment.  Thus, recycling and circularity are at the heart of its strategy. A dedicated area in the port, named NextGenDistrict, plays a central role in the circular economy in the port.  We are looking forward to challenging discussions and exchanges in Antwerp in June at IARC 2024.”

Koen Kennis, Antwerp Vice-Mayor Koen Kennis, Vice-Major for Mobility, City of Antwerp concludes:

“Antwerp is a great place to do business. It has been like this for centuries and will always be. With regard to the recycling industry in all its diversity, Antwerp hosts some players with a worldwide reputation.  So IARC 2024 came to the right place, and its timing is perfect.” 

ICM, the international circular economy congress organizer based in Switzerland, has been organizing industrial recycling congresses for over 30 years. The congress brings together the key actors from every link in the automotive recycling value chain, from mining to recycling.

“Don’t miss this opportunity! Register now for the International Automotive Recycling Congress. The Early Bird fee runs until April 30, 2024, for all delegates. Join us and be part of the future of automotive recycling!”