News: Weibold Academy

In recent years, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has evolved from a peripheral concern to a central pillar in the strategic planning of businesses worldwide. CSR encompasses a company's initiatives to assess and take responsibility for its effects on environmental and social well-being. This shift reflects broader societal changes, including increased public awareness of environmental issues, more stringent governmental regulations, and a growing expectation for businesses to contribute positively to society.

ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a globally recognized leader in developing and delivering voluntary consensus standards. Founded in 1898, ASTM provides a forum for producers, users, consumers, and other stakeholders to create and update standards transparently. The organization supports industries worldwide by offering over 12,000 standards that enhance safety, quality, and performance across various sectors. ASTM standards are utilized in research, product development, and quality assurance to improve public health and safety.

Globally, over one billion tires become unusable yearly, presenting a valuable resource for the circular economy. Efforts to manage end-of-life tires (ELTs) are underway, with various stakeholders collaborating to improve recycling rates and reduce tire dumping. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) has facilitated workshops to foster cooperation among stakeholders in regions such as the US, Europe, and China. While progress has been made in ELT recycling rates, challenges remain, including policy inconsistencies and inadequate market reporting.

On July 14, 2021, the European Commission unveiled the 'fit for 55' package to align with the EU's target of a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, part of the broader European Green Deal aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. The package revises the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), increasing the target for renewable energy consumption from 32% to 40%, later raised to 45% under the REPowerEU plan. Additional targets are proposed for sectors like transport, buildings, industry, and heating, advancing the EU's transition to a greener future.

The EU Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement in November 2023 to revise EU waste shipment procedures with the goal of improving environmental and human health protection, while also supporting climate neutrality, circular economy, and zero pollution objectives. The revised Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) underwent a final vote in a Strasbourg plenary session on February 27, 2024, with 587 in favour, eight against, and 33 abstentions. Find more information about the development of this regulation here.

The Circularity Gap Report 2024, released by the Circle Economy Foundation on January 24, 2024, underscores the pressing need for improved political, financial, and labor conditions to foster a worldwide circular economy. It not only identifies critical drivers but also offers concrete recommendations for policy, finance, and labor to expedite the transition toward a circular economy.

JANUARY 2023: ELT Pyrolysis - a Best Available Technology (BAT). This comprehensive overview discusses the concept of Best Available Technology (BAT) in waste management, focusing on End-of-Life Tires (ELT) pyrolysis. It covers the international context, including the Basel Convention guidelines for ELT management. It emphasizes the classification of ELT pyrolysis as environmentally sound management, referencing European Union regulations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recognition. The Tire Industry Project (TIP)

By passing the Green Deal in 2019, the European Union (EU) set the course for more sustainable investments, for example in areas like renewable energy, biodiversity, or circular economy. The goal is to reach a climate-neutral economy in the EU by 2050, with a reduction goal of 55% by in 2030. To achieve these climate goals, the Green Deal includes an investment plan of 1 trillion euros over the next 10 years. Despite this huge investment, the EU depends also on the support of the private sector to achieve the Paris climate agreement.

Funds, family offices, banks, and large industrial companies are setting up investment budgets of considerable magnitude (with tens or hundreds of millions of euros in fresh capital) for ELT pyrolysis projects to grow up to an industrial scale. This not only opens enormous opportunities for the ELT pyrolysis industry but also poses challenges for a technology going disruptive. In order to meet the expectations of all stakeholders, a multi-layered approach is necessary and the consideration of a multitude of aspects from different perspectives must be considered.