Sustainable Recycling Industries

Advance raw materials stewardship in developing countries

Promoting green industries in developing countries

UNIDO side event @ BC-COP11, Geneva / Switzerland, 2 May 2013
Mathias Schluep & Rolf Widmer, Empa
Developing countries are endowed with a
variety of resources in large amounts

renewable non-renewable secondary

For many developing countries represent a substantial part of their economic

wealth
Dependency on raw materials may also hinder the development process to a
certain extent (the resource curse)

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 2

Seco's engagement in 'raw materials'

 SECO places great importance on ensuring that the exploitation of

agricultural and mineral raw materials benefits the countries and their
populations.
 Switzerland supports bilateral and multilateral programmes (i.e. IMF
and/or the World Bank) to promote a sustainable raw materials sector

 SECO focuses on three areas:

 Non-renewable raw materials

 Renewable agricultural raw materials

 Secondary raw materials from recycled materials

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 3

SECO project examples

 Forest Carbon Partnership Facility

World Bank: REDD readiness,
CHF 9 Mio.
 Indexbasierte
Wetterversicherungen (Weltbank),
z.B. Indien
 Biotrade Facilitation Program
(UNCTAD, IFC); national Biotrade-
programme Peru, Vietnam
 Sustainability standards for
renewable resources: wood,
biofuels, coffee, cotton
 Access & Benefit Sharing (ABS) –
bio diversity convention

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 4

(Secondary) resources recovery is mainly
done in the informal sector

~ 25’000 people work in the the ~ 10’000 workers engage in the

informal plastic recycling informal e-waste recycling
sector in New Delhi, India sector in Accra, Ghana

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 5

The uncontrolled conditions in the informal
sector result in various threads
Environ. pollution Health hazards Cross contamination

The lead content in

Open cable burning Informal gold
recycled plastics
is a major source leachers inhale
often lies above
for dioxines toxic fumes
legal levels

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 6

Swiss e-Waste programme by SECO in
cooperation with Empa (2003 – 2013)
Colombia China
■ E-waste assessment and studies ■ E-waste assessment and studies
■ Legal framework for e-waste ■ Legal framework for e-waste
■ Collective take-back scheme ■ Technical Standards
■ Public-private roundtable ■ Bo2W Project
■ Technical research

India
■ E-waste assessment and studies
■ Clean e-waste channel for «Cyber
City» Bangalore
■ e-Waste Agency (EWA)
■ Alternative business models for
the informal sector

South Africa
■ E-waste assessment and studies
Peru ■ Collective take back scheme (eWASA)
■ E-waste assessment and studies
■ Green e-waste channels
■ Legal framework for e-waste
■ Recycling pilot plant
■ Capacity building for recyclers
■ Technical standards and audit schemes
■ Private and public take-back campaigns
■ Public-private roundtable
2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 7
New Programme 2013 - 2016
Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI)
«Sustainable Recycling Industries»
addresses the demand for standards

Development objectives are:

“The sustainable integration and participation of

small and medium enterprises from developing
and transition countries in the global recycling of
secondary non renewable resources”.

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 9

The new programme engages in three
areas

Secondary raw materials stewardship (global)

India South Africa

Hazardous substances in Recycling of cooling and freezing
(WEEE) plastics appliances

Colombia, Peru, Ghana, Egypt

Sustainable management of e-waste

Life Cycle Inventories (Brazil, Egypt, India, South Africa)

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 10

For the three areas the programme aims
to achieve the following results:

• Secondary raw materials stewardship:

Policies and standards for the sustainable management of
secondary resources are internationally promoted,
recognized and implemented in SECO partner countries.
• Recycling Initiatives:
Local capacities for sustainable recycling industries are
created, aiming at competitive secondary resource
recovery through environmentally and socially sound
processes.
• Life Cycle Inventories:
Basic information required to declare and compare the
environmental and social life cycle performance for
industrial activities along the (reverse) supply chains in
developing and transition countries is available and used
for enhancing sustainable trade schemes.

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 11

The Programme organization includes experts in
the field and builds strong local partnerships

Advisory
Council
Programme (CH based)
Management

Life Cycle Recycling Secondary

Inventories Initiatives raw materials International
stewardship Initiatives &
Platforms

International experts International

Strong local partnerships stakeholder
(government, industry, NGOs) process

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 12

Secondary Raw Materials Stewardship
Labels or Regulation ?

 Labels and regulations work in

synergy and are complementary
 Labels bring awareness & help
in geographic regions where
regulations are insufficient
 Regulations may level the
playing ground

commons.wikimedia.org

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 14

Do Labels / Standards help?

www.wikipedia.org
 A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, ... affixed to a container or article, on which is
printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc.
 Technical standard, an established norm or requirement about technical systems
 International standard, standards suitable for worldwide use
 Open standard, a standard that is publicly available
 Standards organization, an entity primarily concerned with maintaining standards
 Standardization, the process of establishing technical standards
 Standard operating procedure, a step-by-step instruction to achieve a desired result

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 15

 WS3: "Closing resource loops:
Distinguishing good from bad in the secondary commodity market"

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 16

 StEP Summer School @ WRF 2011

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 17

Primary Raw Materials
e.g. Conflict Minerals Standards / Product
Ratings

Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act (2011):

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is mandated to
create rules that address potential conflict materials (e.g. blood
diamonds) ... from near the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
... develop a strategy to address the linkages between human
rights abuses, armed groups, mining of conflict minerals, and
commercial products, and promoted peace and security in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Initiative for
The UN Security Council committee charged with overseeing Responsible
conflict minerals issues reported that this legislation was a Mining Assurance
"catalyst" for efforts to save lives by cutting off a key source of (IRMA)
funding for armed groups.

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 18

Secondary Raw Materials
e.g. WEEE Standards / Product Ratings

BAN's Standard based on World Reuse, Repair and

ISO 14001, OHSAS Recycling Association
18001, global social (Fair Trade Recycling)
accountability standard
SA 8000, ...
WEEELABEX is a multi-stakeholder project laying
down a set of European standards with respect to
WEEE management

Recycling Industry Operating EPEAT® is a comprehensive

Standard (RIOS), comprehensive environmental rating that helps
environmental, health & safety, identify greener computers and
and quality management system that other electronic equipment.
integrates the best aspects of ISO
14001, ISO 9001, and OHSAS 18001,
R2 Practices, produced by U.S. EPA,
electronics manufacturers (e.g. Dell,
HP) recyclers, trade groups, and
Environmental NGOs the.

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 19

The Future: CENELEC WEEE Standard ?

 Comité Européen de
Normalisation
Electrotechnique
(CENELEC) has accepted
the EU mandate for
standardization work in the
field of WEEE
 Swiss Association for
Standardization (SNV) is
Switzerland’s interface to
other national and
international standards
networks (ISO, CEN, ...)

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro

What are the challenges ?

 To make informal and formal recyclers in developing

countries compliant (conformity assessments)

 To extend quality indicators of compliant schemes from

hazardous and valuable substances also to the rest (e.g.
critical metals)

 To guarantee tracebility of secondary commodities / raw

materials
RSB a Blueprint?

 RSB is committed to an equitable, open

and transparent standard-setting
process, following the ISEAL Code of
Good Practice for Setting Social and
Environmental Standards
 Set of standards describe the
requirements related to RSB certification
- it applies to any type of feedstock
worldwide
 The RSB EU-RED consolidated
standards is adapted for compliance with
the Renewable Energy Directive, they
received the recognition of the European
Commission on July 19, 2011

TheScientist, Peter and Maria Hoey

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro

Recycling Initiatives
The recycling Initiatives are focusing on
three main activity lines
Secondary raw materials stewardship

Recycling
Initiatives Conformity
Assessment
ensure level
playing fields
Technology
Financing
Partnerships
Mechanisms
promote
ensure long
appropriate
term feasibility
technologies

Life Cycle Inventories

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 24
Colombia was partnering with the SECO/Empa
“Swiss e-Waste Programme” since 2009

 An e-waste law based on Extended

Producer Responsibility (EPR) is to be
approved anytime soon.
 Planned activities include:
 Policy Implementation: aims at supporting
the ongoing activities in policy development.
 Conformity Assessment: aims at
introducing recycling standards, identifying
and training a conformity assessment body
and establishing a monitoring system in
Colombia.
 Management Systems: aims at supporting
and implementing producer platforms for the
take-back and recycling of e-waste.

13. February 2013 SRI Launch @ ICT4S @ ETHZ 25

Peru was partnering with the SECO/Empa “Swiss
e-Waste Programme” since 2009

 Published the Reglamento RAEE, an e-

waste bill which addresses all e-waste
categories and is based on Extended
Producer Responsibility
 Planned activities include:
 Policy Implementation: aims at supporting
the ongoing implementation process of the
e-waste bill.
 Conformity Assessment: aims at
introducing recycling standards, identifying
and training a conformity assessment body
and establishing a monitoring system in
Colombia.
 Management Systems: aims at supporting
and implementing producer platforms for the
take-back and recycling of e-waste.

13. February 2013 SRI Launch @ ICT4S @ ETHZ 26

Ghana is one of the main hub in Africa for
second-hand EEE and illegal e-waste imports

 Under the Basel Convention “Where are

WEEE in Africa” project, the government
developed a national e-waste strategy.
 Planned activities include:
 Conformity Assessment: aims at
introducing recycling standards and initiates
the conformity assessment system.
 Technology Partnerships: aims at
implementing business development
models to transfer harmful recycling
processes into sound processes in
cooperation with the informal sector.
 Financing Mechanisms: aims at
developing incentive mechanisms under the
principle of Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR).

13. February 2013 SRI Launch @ ICT4S @ ETHZ 27

Egypt addresses the e-waste challenges through
a multi-stakeholder process under the
government led «Green ICT initiative»
 Local partners (CEDARE) with support of
Empa and under consultation of the
stakeholders related to the Egypt Green ICT
Initiative, executed a “Needs assessment of
the e-Waste Sector in Egypt”
 Planned activities include:
 Conformity Assessment: aims at introducing
recycling standards and initiates the
conformity assessment system.
 Technology Partnerships: aims at
implementing a 'youth incubator programme'
for e-waste recycling in the informal sector,
providing financial, administrative, legal, and
technical support.
 Financing Mechanisms : aims at developing
incentive mechanisms under the principle of
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 28

India has been partnering with the SECO/Empa
“Swiss e-Waste Programme” from 2003 - 2008
 In 2011 Toxics Link with support of Empa and
under consultation of stakeholders related to
the new Indian e-waste regulation, executed
a study on improving plastic management in
Delhi related to waste plastic generated from
e-waste.
 Planned activities include:
 Conformity Assessment: aims at supporting
guidelines for the monitoring of in the entire
plastic recycling processing chain.
 Technology Partnerships: establish
knowledge partnerships between Indian
stakeholders and the Swiss Plastics Training
and Technology Centre (KATZ).
 Financing Mechanisms : develop and test
new financing mechanisms to extract plastics
containing banned and problematic additives
from the market and safely destroy them.

13. February 2013 SRI Launch @ ICT4S @ ETHZ 29

South Africa has been partnering with the
SECO/Empa “Swiss e-Waste Programme” from
2003 until 2009
 In a local stakeholder consultation “Fair
recycling” in cooperation with Swiss
Contact and Empa assessed the local
demand for a recycling initiative for CFC-
containing cooling appliances.
 Planned activities include:
 Assess the feasibility of e-waste
management operations – in particular
recycling of CFC-containing cooling
appliances.
 This includes preparing a business case for
possible investors and the base documents
for a possible carbon credit project.

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 30

Life Cycle Inventories
ecoinvent is a global Life Cycle
Inventory (LCI) database

Swiss Centre
 More than 4000 international, transparent unit process LCI For Life Cycle
Inventories
datasets
 resource extraction, material & energy supply, chemicals,
metals, agriculture, waste management, transport services, …
 Based on industry data, compiled by independent experts
 Used by more than 4000 members in more than 50 countries
 Included in the leading LCA software and eco-design tools
worldwide
 ecoinvent is a not-for-profit competence centre of 5 Swiss
research institutes

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 32

There is a demand for Life Cycle
Management in emerging economies

Swiss Centre
 Environmental issues are increasing dramatically in For Life Cycle
Inventories
emerging economies

 International customers demand supply chain data

 Life cycle-based regulations in developed countries may

cause international trade disputes
→ Strong demand for Life Cycle - based studies and
LCI data

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 33

SRI addresses this demand by
creating capacity and LCI data

Swiss Centre
 The goal is to: For Life Cycle
Inventories
 Build expertise on life cycle thinking and LCA
 Create capacity for LCI data collection and LCA studies
 Create LCI data for local (and global) studies
 Build regional networks that grow into self-sustaining
competence centers
 4 Regions:
 Northern Africa (Egypt)
 Sub-Saharan Africa (South Africa)
 South Asia (India)
 Latin America (Brazil)

2. May 2013 ExCOP11, SRI Intro 34

Thank you!

Dr. Mathias Schluep

Empa, Technology and Society Lab
mathias.schluep@empa.ch
www.empa.ch/tsl

www.ewasteguide.info

Dr. Olivier Bovet

SECO, Trade Promotion

olivier.bovet@seco.admin.ch
www.seco-cooperation.admin.ch