In this first edition of 2022 and the Chinese Year of the Tiger, the Three Amigos (host Michael Lion and resident co-anchor contributors Mark Sellier and Murat Bayram) came roaring back on sparkling form with their bi-monthly cutting-edge show “The Challenge”.

Commencing with their hallmark commentary on topics of immediate relevance to the recycling sector with updates on the on-going rampant global logistics concerns as well as the existential regulatory threats implied by the EU’s  legislative process, as well as the current incoherent conundrum provided by the interpretation and implementation of the new Malaysian raw materials import legislation, their incisive analysis reaffirmed BIR’s vigorous role in advocacy and messaging on the global recycling industry’s behalf.

From there the show moved on to its main topic: “This SPECTRE is different, Mr Bond!”

Indeed, it proves to be, while the legendary 007 didn’t make an appearance, the current SPECTRE of the emerging twin threats of rising global inflation and energy prices can become every bit the grave financial threat to the world’s financial system, the recycling sector and populations around the globe that its fictional counterpart was alleged to be!   

The Three Amigos were joined in conversation with the highly acclaimed leading authority on commodity markets, Professor Philippe Chalmin of Paris Dauphine University and author of the highly acclaimed annual commodity year book CyclOpe.

What a fascinating tour de force contribution Professor Chalmin provided! His incisive, prescient, scholarly and witty insights and commentary on the implications of rising inflation and energy costs and both their macro and specifically recycling related impact ran the entire gamut of serious concerns.

Under pertinent questioning and attended observations from host Lion along with key inputs from co-anchors Sellier and Bayram, Professor Chalmin utterly compellingly and vibrantly espoused grippingly on the major crucial themes that the scourge of inflation can visit upon us: energy as a driver of inflation; ESG and the practical problems and impact of knee jerk energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables; and the areas of threat especially pertinent to the recycling sector: logistics costs, rising wage demands, supply chain disruption, hedging backwardation cost risks, supply and demand uncertainties, China’s response including conversion to steel industry EAF’s and the EU potential export control scrap supply threats – no stones were left unturned in the conversation.

Both Lion and Professor Chalmin had endured the double-digit inflation crisis of the 1970’s and Lion posited the quandary to Professor Chalmin could the worst evils of Stagflation return and more disconcertingly could all these problems initiate a pretext for revived populism protest?

Those who viewed the show live witnessed the compelling and engaging exchanges that ensued – and if you didn’t catch this remarkable edition of the show, no worries! You can view the show on playback on the BIR website free to air for both members and everyone including the wider audience of recycling interested stakeholders.

You truly must not miss this opportunity to view or review this totally engaging edition of “The Challenge” – yes indeed, Mr. Bond!