Promote circular economy through conscious contribution of consumers
Today at FIAR Congress 2024 - the annual conference for consumer electronics - it will be announced that industry association FIAR is advocating the introduction of a visible circularity contribution. The aim of the circularity contribution is to promote the circular economy and minimize negative environmental impacts. Whether it is brown goods, white goods, ICT equipment, furniture or clothing, this contribution should come on all relevant non-food products to help and keep the flywheel to a circular economy going. The contribution, paid by the consumer, on top of the price of a product also ensures environmental awareness of consumers with every purchase they make. Proceeds are deposited into a circularity fund that supports circular initiatives. For more information: www.fiar.nl
Main photo: Environmentally conscious consumer on the road with old television. Photographer: Hilbert Krane
Circularity contribution to major shift in sustainability policy
The shift to a circular economy is proving difficult in practice. Companies are introducing innovative concepts and business models, but these often quickly come under pressure. Currently, using existing technology and virgin materials is often cheaper.
FIAR president Frank Rozenberg therefore makes a plea to crank up the flywheel of the circular economy more firmly: "What we as FIAR see is that the transition to a circular economy is not always easy. For example, investments are needed by (new) companies where innovative concepts have to be put into practice. It is a vulnerable phase where good concepts unfortunately do not make it anyway. A recent example is the products from plastic processing that cannot compete with 'virgin' plastics. That's a waste of the efforts we all make to collect discarded products separately, sort them further and reuse them."
For this reason, FIAR advocates introducing a visible circularity contribution, on top of the price of a product to fill a circularity fund. Frank Rozenberg says, "By paying a small circularity contribution, consumers become aware that there are environmental impacts associated with every purchase and we encourage a change in consumer behavior in which sustainability should become increasingly important."
FIAR strongly believes in cooperation between producers, retail, government and consumers on the way to a circular economy. A circularity contribution of, say, 1 euro on the many millions of non-food products sold in our country enables the creation of the circularity fund. A fund jointly managed by consumers, government, producers and retail. The fund is used to test innovative sustainable technologies and support young companies with a circular goal. Promoting reuse, refurbishment, circular raw materials and new business models is the focus.
Consumers too
In a circular economy, products are used longer, more are repaired instead of discarded, and we use raw materials sparingly, with the goal of no longer needing new raw materials by 2050. Frank Rozenberg emphasizes, "It is clear that consumers also play an important role in achieving these goals. In the electronics sector we used to have the visible disposal fee, which contributed very positively to consumer awareness and behavioral change. With a visible circularity contribution, we could take a big step together towards a circular economy."
About FIAR
FIAR CE Foundation is the trade association for producers and importers of audio, imaging and TV. In doing so, FIAR informs its participants about current and relevant developments in the field of legislation and regulations, market trends and producer responsibility. FIAR also represents the interests of producers and importers towards governments and other bodies and brings companies together for networking and knowledge sharing. All this to support the industry. For more information: www.fiar.nl.
