World's Leading Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management
On 6 May 2012 Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, Katherina Reiche, participated in the opening of IFAT ENTSORGA 2012, the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management. The trade fair runs until 11 May 2012 and brings 2,900 exhibitors from 54 countries together in Munich.
"IFAT ENTSORGA is the international showcase for innovation and services in a branch with growing geopolitical relevance. It highlights the close links between high environmental standards and economic success. Resource consumption is on the rise worldwide while raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce; consequently, economies with an innovative, efficient and sustainable closed cycle management have a major competitive edge internationally. Germany's new Closed Cycle Management Act, which enters into force in a few weeks, brings us a good step closer to becoming a genuine closed cycle economy. We aim to recycle at least 65 percent of all municipal waste and recover at least 70 percent of all construction and demolition waste by 2020. As far as possible, raw materials contained in waste will be returned to industry," Katherina Reiche underlined in her welcome address.
The Parliamentary State Secretary also noted the strategic relevance of the resource water in light of climate change and a rapidly expanding global population: "Around 1 billion people have no access to clean water and around 2.5 billion people do not have adequate sanitation. Efficiency technologies which enhance water management are becoming more and more important for the water sector."
With 24 percent of the global market for waste treatment and recycling installations, as well as a 17 percent global share in the field of water and wastewater technologies, Germany is a leading exporter of environmental technology. The relevant markets in both the water sector and closed cycle management show considerable potential for growth.
Background:
IFAT ENTSORGA 2010 was visitied by around 110,000 professionals from over 185 countries. IFAT ENTSORGA 2012 is fully booked and setting a new record in exhibition space: this year's trade fair covers a total of 215,000 square metres - 180,000 square metres of hall space plus 35,000 square metres outside.