Caroline Spelman MP
Call for evidence issued by inquiry into the growth potential of the UK’s remanufacturing sector; with final report expected before Christmas.
A joint inquiry by All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Manufacturing and Sustainable Resource, with the aim of examining the UK remanufacturing sector’s growth potential, has been announced, with a call for evidence issued and all submissions to be received by Friday 26 September.
The inquiry will be co-chaired by former Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP and Barry Sheerman MP and jointly conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Manufacturing (APMG) and Sustainable Resource (APSRG); and will explore the barriers to the up-take of remanufacturing in key sectors, including WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
Following the APSRG’s March 2014 report, ‘Remanufacturing: Towards a Resource Efficient Economy’, which identified key growth opportunities and challenges facing the UK remanufacturing sector, the new inquiry will build upon the previous findings and explore ways in which lessons can be learned from best practice case studies in key industries and applied to remanufacturing sectors that are currently under-performing, such as WEEE.
The extent to which government policy is structured towards promoting remanufacturing growth will also be examined, along with how different businesses have successfully adopted remanufacturing processes into their business models. It will also consider the benefits of alternative types of business models, such as servitisation, in better supporting remanufacturing growth in the UK.
The final report will be issued before Christmas 2014 and will include recommendations for how thegovernment can further encourage the up-take of remanufacturing across sectors.
Commenting on the inquiry, Spelman said: “This new inquiry comes at a critical time. It is clear to us the importance of remanufacturing in terms of both resource security and economic potential is not yet fully appreciated by Parliamentarians or UK industry.
“The future of manufacturing is inextricably linked to environmental sustainability, reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials, and exploiting new areas of comparative advantage.
“We believe the government must do more – firstly to better understand the huge environmental and economic potential that remanufacturing offers, and secondly to create precisely the policy and regulatory framework needed in order for UK businesses to fully embrace it.”
Meanwhile, Sheerman added: “This inquiry allows us to ask detailed questions about how we can put remanufacturing at the heart of the UK economy. What are the barriers to take-up? How can they be addressed at local, national and international levels? What can government do? What can manufacturers do? What role can SMEs play in sparking small scale remanufacturing innovation?
“This inquiry is not about banging drums to prove the benefits of remanufacturing – the benefits are clear. This inquiry is about finding out what we need to do now and in the future to put a more resilient UK at the forefront of global remanufacturing innovation.”
The Recycler contacted UKCRA (UK Cartridge Remanufacturers’ Association) for a comment on the inquiry, with the association stating: “UKCRA views this ‘call for evidence’ as an important opportunity to bring to the government’s attention the cartridge remanufacturing industry, which has been at the vanguard of remanufacturing and self sustainability for over 30 years.”
How do you think this inquiry will impact UK cartridge remanufacturers? Email news@therecycler.com or leave a comment.