News: Structuring the work

16/12/2020

Used oil regeneration represents an ecosystem which makes available regenerated base oils, enhancing the sustainability of the lubricant sector.  In the next years GEIR will face few challenges and significant opportunities specifically related to the ongoing energy transition and the clear move toward a more sustainable industry. In order to allow members to be more actively involved in GEIR’s activities and to provide their own experience to the benefit of the association, GEIR has been recently reorganized into 4 specific areas: product-safety, technology-environment, sustainability, relationships-regulation. Each area has a lead coordinator plus a support team, appointed by members. A technical secretary will ensure coordination between areas, the President and the Steering Committee.

We notably expect these structural upgrades to facilitate and make our engagement with EU policymakers even more efficient than before. The first test will be with the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) – the European Commission’s scientific body, which kickstarted officially in October its first study on waste oils treatment. The initial data collection exercise was presented to all relevant stakeholders, including GEIR, with a view to ask for their future collaboration. The gathered data and results will notably inform the Commission on the feasibility and need to promote further waste oil regeneration at EU level.

While being much involved with the JRC, GEIR is also closely monitoring the European Parliament’s activities. Its Environment committee is currently drafting a report on Circular Economy which will provide recommendations to the European Commission. Against the JRC study backdrop, reiterated support from the political institution to waste oils regeneration, and especially targets, will be timely.