Its work programme, aimed at global institutions such as the UN, the OECD and the World Bank, aims to increase to 5% the proportion of manufactured output that achieves an extended life through remanufacturing. The current rate is a mere 2%. The unveiling of the programme looked much like any other until a last-minute plot twist.
Keynote speaker Walter Stahel, widely regarded as the “grand vizier” who first highlighted the resource savings that could be achieved by extending product life, wished the business-led Council every success. Dr Nancy Bocken from TU Delft presented results from the ERN (European Remanufacturing Network) project and acknowledged the funding support from the EU Horizon 2020 programme. The ERN network enabled researchers from across Europe to deliver a comprehensive market study designed to be directly comparable with one carried out in the USA.
David Parker from Oakdene Hollins set out the recommendations from the ERN project partners – aimed at enabling faster growth in remanufacturing sales. The new Council will liaise with the research community in the ERN whilst welcoming member companies from the automotive, transport, imaging, and technology sectors. Other businesses, both large and small, were encouraged to join the Council to assist in building a new generation of remanufacturing innovators and advocates.
“Our ambition is to make remanufacturing a normal part of a product’s life cycle, but before that can happen we need to inspire a new, young generation. That’s why one of our strategies will be to promote the character of Rodney Copperbottom,” announced Council Director David Fitzsimons.
