Emmanuel Katrakis – Galloo (FRA/BEL)

To be frank, each BIR Convention is pretty unique. The first BIR Convention as newly appointed Secretary General of EuRIC (today Recycling Europe) is obviously unforgettable because I could feel the heartbeat of the recycling industry live. But if I had to choose one, I would say BIR Valencia in May 2025. With almost 2,000 participants, it simply beat all the records, allowing multiple business contacts for Galloo and the companies present. Content-wise, the programme was to the point at a time when trade restrictions had started to reshape global trade. That made BIR more relevant than ever as a platform able to address such challenges and defend the global recycling industry.