BIR Gothenburg: recyclers urged to combine open markets, technology and stronger material narratives

BIR’s Gothenburg convention highlighted how recyclers are being pushed to deliver cleaner, traceable secondary materials while navigating trade uncertainty, fire risk, electrification and rising quality demands. For ELV operators, the message is practical: invest in data, safety, AI-enabled sorting and stronger market positioning to secure recycling’s role in future industrial supply chains.

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) used its World Recycling Convention & Exhibition in Gothenburg to convey a clear message to recyclers: secondary raw materials are becoming more strategically important, but the sector’s ability to invest depends on open markets, credible data, better collection, and practical innovation.

Held from 31 May to 3 June, the event attracted more than 1,700 registered participants from over 800 companies across 57 countries, marking BIR’s first convention in Sweden in half a century. Opening the event, BIR President Susie Burrage OBE said the organisation had made “strong progress” in advocacy, communications and education, including the launch of the BIR Academy video series and stronger engagement in international policy discussions.

Recycled materials move up the policy agenda

At BIR’s General Assembly, Burrage said recycling was moving “firmly into the centre of policy discussions”, with the organisation active in forums including the Basel Convention COP-17, the UN PACE II Working Group and negotiations towards a Global Plastics Treaty.

Her message was direct: “Recycled materials are not an alternative – they are a necessity.” A new Environmental Benefits of Recycling study, nearing completion with KPMG, is intended to give the industry a stronger evidence base to demonstrate its environmental value and counter misinformation.

For vehicle recyclers and end-of-life vehicle (ELV) operators, the wider policy signal is significant. As governments focus on resource security, critical raw materials and circular industrial policy, recyclers are increasingly expected to provide traceable, high-quality feedstock while also meeting tougher environmental and safety standards.

Ferrous markets face volatility, but opportunity remains

In the Ferrous Division meeting, President Shane Mellor warned that global ferrous markets remain exposed to geopolitical instability, energy disruption, protectionism, freight volatility and changing trade dynamics. However, he argued that recycled steel is no longer seen simply as a secondary raw material, but as “the strategic resource at the centre of true green steel”.

Futurist Tom Cheesewright told delegates that automotive steel flows could become more challenging as vehicles last longer and fewer cars reach end-of-life in volume terms. With steelmakers demanding higher-quality input material, recyclers may need to invest further in sorting, data and quality assurance.

For ELV processors, this reinforces the importance of maintaining reliable routes from depollution, dismantling and shredding into steelmaking. The opportunity is clear, but so is the requirement: cleaner, better-characterised recycled steel streams will be increasingly important to future steel supply.

Trade access remains critical

The International Trade Council emphasised the importance of free and fair trade amid rising protectionism. Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association in the US, said global market access is “critical” because the US produces a surplus of recycled materials across commodities.

ReMA research presented at the session found that available US end-of-life recycled copper supply was 3.5 times domestic consumption in 2025, while recycled aluminium supply was 4.5 times current demand. Wiener said this showed there was “no justification” for trade restrictions.

For auto recyclers, this point matters because ELV-derived metals, wiring, aluminium components and shredder outputs often depend on cross-border demand and price signals to support viable recovery.

Critical materials, EV batteries and collection

The newly renamed BIR Electronics Committee, formerly the Electrics, Electronics and EV Batteries Committee, added another dimension to the debate. Chair Josephita Harry said the shorter title was intended to be simple and relatable, while the session itself focused on increasingly complex material streams.

Dr Spyros Karamoutsos of ECORESET highlighted the difficulty of recovering critical raw materials from used electronics, pointing to heterogeneous products and limited information for recyclers on where valuable materials are located. He called for clearer labelling, harmonised classification, more appropriate collection-rate methodologies and stronger collaboration between manufacturers, recyclers, collection schemes and authorities.

For vehicle recyclers, the lesson is relevant as electrified vehicles bring more complex components into ELV flows. Better product information and removal guidance will be essential if recyclers are to recover magnets, electronics and battery-related materials safely and profitably.

Alexandre Gouy of the International Energy Agency said around 20% of cars sold globally this year will be electric, rising to more than half by 2035. A battery electric vehicle uses around six times more critical minerals than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, while EVs and batteries account for half of global lithium demand. He warned that investment is needed not only in recycling capacity, but also collection capacity.

AI, robotics and fire risk move into operations

Technology was another recurring theme. In the Shredder Committee, Raghav Mecheri, CEO of Visia AI, said low-error AI-powered material control systems could have an “immense” impact on inbound and outbound flows for secondary metals processors. Applications already include detecting lithium-ion batteries, oxygen and propane tanks, non-metallics, dirt and composition issues in automotive shredder residue.

Robotics was also presented as a response to labour shortages and rising purity requirements. However, speakers stressed that technology must sit alongside robust safety planning, particularly as lithium batteries become more common in material streams.

Changing the language of recycling

The Electronics Committee also returned to a broader communications point. John Sacco of Sierra International Machinery argued that the language used to describe recycled materials influences public and policy-maker perceptions, favouring “recycled” over “scrap”. Harry urged delegates to play their part in changing the narrative by talking more clearly about what recycling does and the benefits it brings.

For ELV operators, the practical takeaway from Gothenburg is that market access, data, safety, technology and communication are now closely linked. Recyclers are being asked to deliver cleaner materials and stronger proof of value. Those able to combine operational discipline with a clearer circular-economy story will be best placed as recycled materials become central to future industrial supply chains.