European Remanufacturing Council

Since 2015, the remanufacturing and refurbishment sector of the circular economy has enjoyed a period of strong growth, even if some of the product sectors within it have experienced a slower pace of unit growth or even decline (e.g., automotive aftermarket parts, printer cartridges and passenger vehicle tyres).

Supporting Remanufacturing – Ref. Ares(2020)6810910 - 16/11/2020 the backbone of the Circular Economy Consultation Response to the Sustainable Products Initiative __________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Sustainable Products Initiative.

Opening of the attached position paper · the full paper is on the Commission’s record (source link above)

The European Remanufacturing Council represents companies that extend the life of products through industrial-scale processes of remanufacture and refurbishment. 90% of the €30 billion European sales in the sector are in B2B with only 10% in B2C. Expanding the expertise in B2B toward B2C products is going to be necessary for a more circular economy.

The European Remanufacturing Council represents businesses and organisations taking back used products, often those they have themselves designed and manufactured, for remanufacture or refurbishment. These products are then placed back on the market. In the case of remanufactured products, they do so as fully upgraded, recertified and new.

We favour Option 4 and propose a 'landing zone' on which to develop improved environmental outcomes in this highly competitive - and slowly declining market. The European Remanufacturing Council represents businesses that remanufacture and refurbish used products in many sectors but including imaging equipment and cartridges.