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Recycling and Efficiency Technologies - Made in Germany

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The Export Initiative Recycling and Efficiency Technologies (RETech) - Summary

The worldwide demand for recycling and disposal technologies is large and will continue to grow. This is also due to the fact that raw materials are becoming scarcer and that emerging economies are showing an increasing environmental awareness. Low-waste production and environmentally sound recycling processes are suitable methods to limit the increase in waste volumes, to use raw materials economically and to minimise the disposal costs or follow-up costs arising from illegal dumping. Recycling and waste disposal technologies can limit environmental degradation and negative social impacts and contribute to a more efficient use of resources. Owing to stringent national environmental requirements, the German recycling and waste disposal industry is extremely well set up to meet this global demand. German companies already hold a considerable international market share of about 25% in this sector. This level of performance must be maintained and expanded.

Against this background the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) assumed the lead responsibility for establishing the Export Initiative Recycling and Efficiency Technologies. The aim of the export initiative is to provide long-term support for German enterprises regarding the export of recycling and efficiency technologies. It is planned to improve the prerequisites for investments in target markets through environmental and development measures, i.e. by establishing or optimising the respective framework conditions and the know-how in the target countries (capacity building). The export of technological installations and services will be actively supported by applying economic instruments for the promotion of foreign trade and investment.

The Export Initiative Recycling and Efficiency Technologies (RETech) network

The development and consistent realisation of the export initiative is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental task and is carried out jointly with other ministries, their technical agencies or associated institutes and with industrial associations. The development of a network of actors is of particular importance during the initial phase. The initiative will bundle and harmonise support instruments and schemes available in Germany and offered by authorities and industry associations supporting export. By doing so, existing contacts, networks, export instruments, support instruments etc. and the knowledge of the participating actors/institutions will be incorporated into the initiative.

During an initial phase (June to October 2007) a strategy paper on the development and the implementation of the initiative was drawn up and discussed by the actors/institutions involved at the conference Export Initiative Recycling and Efficiency Technologies (RETech) 2007.

On 11 September 2007 the Federal Environment Ministry hosted this conference in Bonn. This successful launch event in which around 150 experts participated gave important impetus. The initiative aims at providing long-term support for German enterprises regarding the export of recycling and efficiency technologies.