G8 Encourages More Remanufacturing

June 10, 2004

Chantilly, Virginia -- At the recent G8 Summit Meeting held in Savannah, Georgia on June 8-10, 2004, the leaders of the eight industrialized countries announced their commitment to remanufacturing.

In cooperation with relevant international organizations their initiative seeks to:

• Reduce waste, Reuse and Recycle (“3R”) resources and products to the extent it is economically feasible;
• Reduce barriers to the international flow of goods and materials for recycling and remanufacturing, recycled and remanufactured products, and cleaner, more efficient technologies, consistent with existing environmental and trade obligations and frameworks;
• Encourage cooperation among various stakeholders (governments, private sector, non-government organizations and communities), including voluntary and market-based activities;
• Promote science and technology suitable for 3R’s; and
• Cooperate with developing countries in such areas as capacity building, raising public awareness, human resource development and implementation of recycling/remanufacturing projects.
   

APRA’s President William C. Gager, on hearing the news, commented, “This is a great day for the remanufacturing industry. To see that the industrialized countries have finally recognized the importance of the remanufacturing industry’s contributions to preserving and protecting the environment is important to the future growth of our industry.”

Gager added, “At a time when numerous pressures are restraining our industry’s growth, it is nice to be recognized as a real GREEN industry. We have always believed that remanufacturing is the ultimate form of recycling because it extends product life and provides quality products to the world. And, at the same time, remanufacturing is a very labor intensive industry and thus has become an engine for job creation.”

Gager concluded, “We look forward to working with the various groups within the G8 to move this initiative forward. Our entire remanufacturing community is ready to move forward to help in any way we can because it will provide long term growth for our remanufacturing industry, and, because it is the right thing to do to protect and preserve the world’s environment.”