ETIRA/The Recycler Live Conference in Brussels: EU Ecodesign Rules Take Centre Stage!
May 25, 2024
An eventful gathering of industry leaders
On 15-16 May 2024, ETIRA held its annual meeting in Brussels, coinciding with “The Recycler Live Europe” conference. With around 95 delegates attending, this event once again proved to be the premier gathering for industry professionals to network and stay updated on the latest industry trends.
Day One Highlights
The conference kicked off on Wednesday with a compelling presentation about the market in war-torn Ukraine. Following this, Jose Angel Munoz of GM Technology provided insights into the hardware reuse market in Spain. Karolina Wrzesniak-Cywl of Biuromax then discussed the crucial role of components and spare parts in cartridge remanufacturing.
The spotlight of the day was on the forthcoming EU ecodesign legislation for imaging equipment and cartridges. HP introduced its innovative approach to sharing chip resetting data with the industry, marking a significant shift compared to its current business model ETIRA’s Javier Martinez and Vincent van Dijk, along with Volker Kappius from Delacamp, delved into the new law’s implications, emphasising its potential to transform the cartridge remanufacturing landscape.
Keynote Address
Mathieu Rama of ECOS, a European NGO focused on environmental standards, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the alignment of ECOS’s initiatives with the EU’s Right to Repair policy and advocated increased cartridge reuse. Bram Soenen from the Belgian Government provided insights into the general support for regulation among Member States.
ETIRA Members’ Meeting
At the ETIRA members’ only meeting, attendees reviewed and approved finance and other statutory matters. A significant portion of the discussion centred on the anticipated impact of the upcoming EU regulations on the ecodesign of printers and cartridges on daily business operations.
Networking and Awards
The evening reception and dinner, featuring the presentation of The Recycler’s Annual Awards, offered excellent networking opportunities. Delegates mingled and celebrated industry achievements.
Day Two Insights
Thursday’s sessions featured presentations from market analysts, including Charlie Brewer of Action Intelligence and Debra Hawkins and Peter Mayhew from Keypoint Intelligence, who shared the latest market research data. Additionally, Zhono provided valuable market insights, and industry veteran David Connett concluded the day with an analysis of the non-OEM new builds market.
Acknowledgements
ETIRA extends its heartfelt thanks to the event organisers, Stefanie Unland from The Recycler Magazine, David Connett from Connett & Unland GbR, and the numerous sponsors who made this event possible, including Static Control, Altkin, Biuromax, Denner, KMP, Consuprint, Delacamp, Geehy/APEX, and Nubeprint.
Our Sponsors and Supporters
The support from our sponsors is crucial to the success of our conference. Their contributions enable us to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and innovation. We deeply appreciate their commitment and support.