New European Remanufacturing Council sets sights on increased rate
A new trade association has been launched with the aims of increasing the rate of remanufacturing across Europe and promoting awareness and understanding of the remanufacturing industry.
The Conseil Européen de Remanufacture (European Remanufacturing Council) held its first meeting in Brussels today (27 January) and announced its plans to work to raise the current proportion of manufactured output that has its life extended through remanufacturing from the current rate of two per cent to five per cent.
The council, which has been supported by the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding programme, will work towards this rate by representing companies that produce €30 billion of remanufactured products and employ 190,000 people across Europe.
The new council says it will liaise with the research community in the European Remanufacturing Network (ERN) whilst welcoming member companies from the automotive, transport, imaging, and technology sectors. Other businesses, both large and small, have been encouraged to join the council to assist in building a new generation of remanufacturing innovators and advocates.
Using Hollywood to promote message
As part of the promotion of remanufacturing, the council is trying to tap into a Hollywood character to show how old products can be used to make great, new things, according to David Fitzsimons, Managing Director of consultancy Oakdene Hollins, will serve as the European Remanufacturing Council’s Director.
Fitzsimons told the inaugural meeting that he has been in touch with Jerry Davis, producer of the 2005 animated film Robots, which sees teenage inventor Rodney Copperbottom champion innovation and resourceful manufacturing processes after becoming angry at the amount of waste in the world.
Fitzsimons said: “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.”
More information about the Conseil Européen de Remanufacture can be found on the council’s website. 
