German recycling and waste management companies are looking for business partners
The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) held a business conference on September 27 focusing on the recycling and waste management sector.
“We are delighted to see once again the great interest of German companies in traveling to the Philippines to explore cooperation, engage potential partners and… see the eagerness of their Filipino counterparts,” said Christopher Zimmer, Executive Director of GPCCI, hoping that the delegation will pave the way for greater collaboration in the recycling and waste management industry in the Philippines and Germany.
“And with the new Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 in effect, we are pleased that discussions…[would be timely for all stakeholders, especially for small and medium enterprises] in the recycling and waste management industry,” added Zimmer. “Overall, we are delighted to provide the platform that further strengthens the bilateral business relationship between the Philippines and Germany.”
At the conference, Commissioner Crispiano Lao, founding chairman of the Philippine Alliance for Materials Recycling and Sustainability, said that “44,610 tons of waste is produced daily in the Philippines, but we believe this can be solved” .
Lao further explained, “The need to address the lack of infrastructure is key to achieving the goals of the ‘Zero Waste to Nature’ program.”
This program is a statement of commitment from global and local manufacturers, as well as plastic producers, recyclers and other members of the waste value chain, to initiate and support waste reduction and collection efforts, in line with the 2025 Sustainable Packaging Commitments. of some global brands, while adhering to local science and economy.
“Our organization aims to build capacity [for] local government units, communities and the private sector,” said the president of the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines, Dr. Marlon De Luna Era, as he urged businesses to join in “talking and cooperate on how we can work to achieve sector goals”.
The trade mission took place as part of the foreign market entry program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It consisted of a physical delegation with more than 50 business meetings for German delegates in the Philippines.
The business conference featured several local experts in the recycling and waste management industry, and brought together over 130 attendees from the Philippines and Germany.
Five German companies participated in the trade mission: 2G Energy AG, BOMAG GmbH, CUTMETALL plus Carbide Germany GmbH, EUWELLE Environmental Technology GmbH and Vecoplan AG.
