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Industry takes the lead: voluntary agreement on energy efficiency in the EU plastic converting sector

Panel: 3. Matching policies and drivers: Policies and Directives to drive industrial efficiency

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Erik de Ruijter, Dutch Rubber and Plastics Association (NRK), The Netherlands
Boudewijn Huenges Wajer, NL Energie en Klimaat/Agentschap NL

Abstract

The European plastic converting sector makes an unusual effort to improve it's energy efficiency. Between 2009 and 2011 a consortium of representatives from the sector and experts developed a Voluntary Agreement (VA) between 8 participating National Plastics Converter Associations, the European Plastic Converters Association (EuPC) and European energy agencies aiming at a long-term drive to reduce energy consumption in one of Europe’s most significant industries with a combined turnover of some 300 billion Euros. The development was (co) funded by the EU Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme.

Amongst others the project was based on the results of previous IEE projects to improve energy efficiency in the plastic industry and on implementation tools in SMEs like energy management, best pratices, benchmarking and on achieving commitment amongst key actors e.g. via VAs. A practical input came from the Dutch Association of plastics converting industry (NRK) which already had implemented a national long term agreement on energy efficiency since 1990 as part of a national LTA framework on energy efficiency. This action has lead to an increase of more than 65% in energy efficiency from 1990 to 2011.

The voluntary agreement, will act as a critical tool in market transformation, raising awareness of energy legislation amongst SME’s, whilst tackling an untapped potential for energy savings within Europe’s plastics industry and thereby improving its competiveness. The major European plastics processing countries will contribute directly to the EU objective of 20% energy savings by 2020.

The paper will discuss what triggered industry to this initiative and why a voluntary agreement is chosen as a vehicle. Major success factors, new challenges and opportunities within the sector like producing more sustainable products and improving chain efficiency will be described. Last, but certainly not least the actual realization of energy efficiency improvement within the voluntary agreement scheme in the participating countries is going to be addressed.

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