BIR Gothenburg 2026 – General Assembly: Burrage: “Recycled materials are not an alternative – they are a necessity”

BIR has continued to show “relevance, resilience and responsibility” in the face of an ever more complex global environment weighed down by geopolitical uncertainty, resource constraints and shifting alliances, declared BIR President Susie Burrage OBE in her address to the world recycling organisation’s latest General Assembly, held on June 2 in Sweden’s main port city of Gothenburg. Against this confused backdrop, she added, BIR’s clear mission has been “to serve our members and to ensure the voice of recyclers is heard, understood and respected at the highest levels”.

With recycling “moving firmly into the centre of policy discussions”, BIR’s increasingly strong advocacy team is ensuring that the recycling industry’s expertise can inform outcomes where important decisions are being made, such as at the United Nations, the OECD and within the EU. “Our participation in Basel Convention COP-17, the UN PACE II Working Group and the ongoing negotiations towards a Global Plastics Treaty reflects a clear objective: to ensure that recycling is recognised as essential to environmental protection, climate mitigation and fair global trade,” insisted Ms Burrage, who is Managing Director of UK-based Recycled Products Ltd.

In addition to boosting its advocacy team, BIR has also looked to strengthen its communications outreach so that its messages can be more widely and deeply understood, she continued. The Environmental Benefits of Recycling study, nearing completion with KPMG, will hammer home the message that “recycled materials are not an alternative - they are a necessity”, she said. This major study will “provide our industry with a robust, fact-based foundation to demonstrate our environmental value and to counter misinformation with confidence”, according to Ms Burrage.

Communications Committee Chairman Ibrahim Aboura of Aboura Metals in the UAE went on to outline some of the organisation’s other communications initiatives, notably publication of the fifth edition of BIR’s flagship member magazine The Recyclist and an enhanced social media presence, including more than 20,000 followers on LinkedIn.

Continuing the theme of recent initiatives, Ms Burrage said she is “thrilled” with the progress made on education through the BIR Academy, converting the industry’s profound expertise into high-quality, accessible learning tools for members and the wider market. These have included an introductory video and also an educational video entitled “Understanding the LME”, which is now available on YouTube. Work has already begun on the Academy’s next video, focusing on fire prevention and safety.

According to Ms Burrage, the increasing numbers of companies and national federations choosing to join BIR’s ranks is a clear sign of industry unity and trust in world body’s work. The very high member retention rate of 86% signals clearly that “in a time of rapid change, our members look to BIR for stability, perspective and effective representation”, she argued.

“Companies of all sizes, in very different economic and regulatory environments, still see real value in a strong, independent international federation,” she continued. “It is also encouraging to see the growing presence of members from Asia and the Middle East, reflecting a broader shift: recycling is increasingly recognised as strategic for industrial resilience and resource security.”

The ongoing strength of BIR’s membership performance was underlined by Director General Arnaud Brunet. Speaking in the absence of Membership Committee Chairman Fadi Shahrour, he oversaw the formal ratification of the 120 new member companies and associations to have joined the world recycling organisation since its previous General Assembly in May 2025. By the end of last year, he confirmed, BIR’s numbers included 1088 members from across 71 countries as well as 34 national federation members. At the time of the Gothenburg Convention, the membership total has risen to 1165 drawn from 73 countries, with Asia - led by India - showing the strongest growth.

To extend its outreach even further, BIR has appointed Sofia Placitelli to its newly-created Membership Acquisition & Development Officer position, Mr Brunet reported. Her role will be to lead targeted recruitment strategies across all regions, with a particular focus on national federations.

Ms Burrage also heralded BIR’s ability to encapsulate “the power of connection”, most notably through its twice-yearly World Recycling Conventions and Exhibitions. Taking this cue, Convention Committee Chairman Brian Henesey of Rocky Mountain Recycling in the USA confirmed that last year’s Valencia Convention set a new benchmark for BIR events by attracting more than 2000 participants, drawn from 66 countries.

The world organisation’s ensuing Convention in Bangkok - its first ever to be staged in Thailand - carried on the momentum by pulling in nearly 1200 delegates, the highest number to attend one of BIR’s October Conventions. “These events showed what BIR does best: we bring markets together, we connect regions and we turn global discussions into real business opportunities while giving our advocacy work a much broader reach,” he enthused. Looking ahead, he confirmed Rome as the destination for BIR’s May 2027 Convention and announced that Japan has been selected to host the organisation’s October 2027 event.

An equally strong financial performance was reported by BIR Treasurer Dhawal Shah of Metco Ventures LLP in India. He described 2025 as an “excellent” year in which BIR’s total income exceeded initial expectations, driven by membership growth and successful Conventions. While costs were well controlled, BIR maintained investment in its core strategic priorities of advocacy, communications and manpower resources at the Secretariat.

A record year, combined with prudent cost management, has enabled BIR’s Executive Committee to freeze membership fees for 2026 in acknowledgement of the financial pressures facing many companies across the recycling industry. BIR’s 2026 budget, meanwhile, “provides for continued investment in advocacy, communications and membership development, while keeping overall expenditures aligned with expected revenues,” observed Mr Shah. “Where appropriate, dedicated funds are incorporated to support specific strategic initiatives.”

Ms Burrage insisted that none of BIR’s achievements would have been possible without disciplined stewardship and the outstanding work of the Secretariat team in Brussels under the leadership of Mr Brunet.