A new digital platform for the European plastics processing industry was launched last week. The platform is called MORE and was set up to monitor the use of recyclate plastic in new products.
The new IT platform MORE (MOnitoring Recyclates for Europe) was developed by the EuPC in cooperation with its members such as the Federation NRK and supports the European Commission's EU Plastics Strategy. Its aim is to monitor and record the efforts of the plastics processing industry, working towards the EU target of 10 million tonnes of recycled plastics from 2025.
Early this year, the platform was successfully tested at several companies in Europe. After the latest improvements, the MORE platform is now available in six EU countries: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. These countries process almost 50% of all recycled plastics in Europe. Other EU countries will follow in the coming months so that the entire EU will be covered after the summer.
Active role NRK
Jur Zandbergen, general director NRK, says in a press release: "As NRK, we actively participated in the preparations of the platform. This IT platform is completely new in its set-up and of great value to the plastics processing industry. As a Dutch industry, MORE allows us to substantiate with facts that NRK companies have a focus on the use of recyclate. In 2018, the volume of recyclate was around 12% of the total raw material input. This can and should be increased further. Together with recyclers and brand owners, such as Philips and Unilever, we are working hard to make the many new and smart products circular. With the Rethink programme, we also focus on redesign, recycle, renew, reuse and reduce. Results come from chain cooperation and it is important to report the hard kilos of recyclate deployed, in addition to great example projects. MORE is an IT platform that provides valuable information for the company itself, the Netherlands and Europe with limited input from individual companies. Based on the facts, we make our policies and actions towards the circular rubber and plastics industry. As NRK, we will recommend the IT platform MORE to the member companies and with the results, which we expect from the beginning of 2020, we can show the Dutch politicians and citizens that our efforts are also producing results."
Coordinators
The participation of companies is a critical success factor for MORE. Gradually, MORE will have to establish itself as a reliable source. NRK and EuPC will work closely together to achieve successful introduction and acceptance by NRK companies. A national MORE coordinator has been appointed at the NRK and the other national organisations. These coordinators will also coordinate with each other and share knowledge to rapidly grow the number of participants and keep registration easy for companies. Chain partners such as brand owners, designers, recyclers and joint ventures are explicitly invited to register the volumes of recycled plastics used in new products in MORE.
At launch, MORE is available in English, German, Spanish, Italian and French. The aim is to add Dutch, as well as other EU languages by the end of 2019. Together, we are making MORE efforts to meet EU recycling targets for 2025.
Source: NRK.
