Latest news with #ACEA
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
How embracing the circular economy can be a game-changer for businesses?
Circular economy offers businesses an opportunity to break through the volatile economy as global uncertainty continues to impact businesses economically, environmentally and socially. The sustainability conversation is no longer about lofty ideals: It's about survival, resilience and relevance. There is more than enough policy, strategy, and information in place to guide businesses toward sustainable practices. The African Development Bank has established the Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF) to foster Africa's transformation by adopting a circular economy; the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) based at the UN hosted COP23 by South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda seeks to establish a collaboration of various initiatives; and the United Nations in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals laid out three interconnected pillars - environmental, social responsibility and economic performance, to ensure that sustainability initiatives are financially viable and support economic growth without compromising environmental and social goals. What's required now is the collective commitment from companies to support circular economy initiatives and get government departments to accept refurbished options when spending public money. Electronic waste Globally, e-waste is growing rapidly; around 50 million tonnes are generated annually, and a significant amount of that waste is shipped to Africa and Asia for recycling. According to the EPR Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA), South Africans produce about 6.2kg of electronic waste per person per year. That's 360,000 tonnes, equivalent to 432 laptops per minute. Of that total, around 12% is formally recycled, and the vast majority goes straight to landfills, where it can leach harmful chemicals like lead, arsenic, mercury, flame retardants, and certain phthalates into the soil and groundwater, posing a significant risk to human and environmental health. As global and local regulations tighten, businesses that fail to manage their resource consumption and waste effectively could face reputational damage, compliance penalties, and exclusion from supply chains focused on ESG procurement, posing both an environmental and a business risk. IBIS World reports that Europe's consumer electronics repair market size has reached €3.1bn as of 2024. Revenue volatility in this market is low, and revenue has grown at a CAGR of 7.2 % from 2019 to 2024. This indicates confidence in the activity and acceptance of the proposition not only from an environmental perspective but also from a financial and social perspective. In fact, IDC, in their Refurbished Devices Multi Client Study (2024), reports that 74% of those surveyed already use or are planning to use refurbished printing devices in the next two years. The drivers make for interesting reading: - Cost motivates only 56% of respondents. - The desire for sustainability at 40% and policies for sustainability at 39% are strong indicators that considerations are wider than financial;. - Post-decision financial incentives, such as rebates or discounts, are driving consideration in 24% of respondents. - About 24% also listen to recommendations from peers and other influences. A practical, scalable path An important fact to consider is that circular print solutions are only as good as the standards behind them. Businesses must ensure that refurbished devices meet manufacturer specifications, include relevant certifications, and integrate seamlessly into modern IT environments. The proposition doesn't just stop at the equipment. Xerox CEO Steve Bandrowczak pointed out to clients – at a business breakfast on 1 April 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa – that more than 65% of service calls into the global contact centre were resolved remotely, negating the need for numerous car journeys and minimising pollution. If a technician needs to be dispatched to service a device, they depart already knowing from data provided by AI-driven remote diagnostics what the issue is and can then carry the necessary parts with them, making a return to fix far less likely, again driving down the number of journeys. If further support is needed, the technician can access an augmented reality session through tools that allow them to get support from experts as if they were in the room, reducing the potential for unnecessary repairs and the consumption of spare parts. This approach contributes to the overall sustainability of a refurbished equipment experience and reduces risks to adoption. As South Africa faces increasing pressure to deliver on ESG targets, manage resource scarcity, and enable inclusive growth, circular economy initiatives offer a practical, scalable path forward. As the ACEA states, by 2030, global circular economy efforts could generate $4.5trn in economic benefits. That is a number that South African businesses cannot afford to ignore. The technology is here. The expertise is here. Now all we need is the effort to embrace the circular economy.
Motor 1
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Kia Is Worried That Selling Too Many Gas Cars or EVs Could Hurt the Business
Selling cars in Europe today requires a delicate balancing act. On one hand, combustion-engine vehicles remain the preferred choice among buyers. In the European Union, electric cars held only a 15.3% market share in the first four months of the year, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). On the other hand, tougher legislation is forcing automakers to accelerate the rollout of EVs. Therein lies the problem. Kia says it must tread carefully because favoring either side could backfire. Carlos Lahoz, the company's Vice President of Sales in Europe, explained to Automotive News Europe why prioritizing ICE over EVs, or the reverse, should be avoided: 'If we rely too much on combustion cars, we risk not reaching the CO₂ targets and having to pay fines. If we push EV sales too much, we end up denting our profit margins.' It's no secret that the EU is breathing down the car industry's neck with stricter emissions regulations. Some automakers, like Volkswagen and Renault, have expressed concern about potentially paying billions of euros in fines in 2025 alone for exceeding the newly enforced limits. The EU has granted carmakers an additional two years to meet these targets by calculating fleet emissions as an average over the 2025–2027 period, rather than requiring compliance in 2025 alone. Nevertheless, automakers are facing significant headwinds. Stellantis' chairman recently stated that engineers spend over 25% of their working hours solely on ensuring cars comply with increasingly stringent legislation . It's safe to assume that meeting stricter emissions standards takes the lion's share. Especially with 2035 looming, when automakers will be required to sell only EVs in countries that adhere to EU legislation. But going all-in on EVs today isn't a viable solution either. Lahoz acknowledges that electric cars still can't match the profitability of ICE models. Battery costs remain too high to make EVs financially competitive, so Kia must strike the right balance between gas-powered and electric vehicles to maintain a sustainable business. Companies are still free to sell as many gasoline and diesel vehicles as they want in Europe, provided they balance those sales with plug-in hybrids and, especially, EVs to reduce average fleet emissions. The issue Lahoz raised isn't unique to Kia, as virtually all major automakers face the same dilemma. The development of tomorrow's EVs is being funded by profits from today's gas-powered cars. Price parity between the two has still not been achieved, with a few exceptions, primarily limited to Chinese manufacturers taking advantage of lower production costs. Sales-wise, Kia is doing great these days in Europe, even outpacing some of Europe's most established names. ACEA's data for the first four months of the year shows Kia held a 4.1% market share in the EU+EFTA+UK region, beating Ford (3.4%), Opel/Vauxhall (2.9%), Citroën (2.8%), Fiat (2.3%), and SEAT (1.7%). In fact, it even outperformed its bigger sibling, Hyundai (3.9%). Catch Up With Kia: Kia Is Developing a More Powerful Gas Engine The 2026 Kia EV4 Sedan and Hatchback Buck the SUV Trend Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Automotive News Europe Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
EU council agrees requirements on vehicle recycling at their end of use
The Council of the European Union said on Tuesday it had agreed on setting requirements to ensure that new vehicles are designed in a way that supports their re-use and recycling. In a statement, the council said its position was based on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime, an environmental policy under which producers are held responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste management. "The regulation in particular introduces a mandatory target for recycled plastics and opens the possibility to set future targets for recycled steel, aluminium, and critical raw materials," the council said. In a statement, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) welcomed the council's position, adding it should not weigh on the sector's competitiveness. "The new end-of-life vehicle recycling rules must be technically feasible and supported by a coherent framework. Transforming end-of-life-vehicle recycling will not happen overnight," said ACEA director general Sigrid de Vries . The council will now start negotiations with the European Parliament on the definitive setting of the rules.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
EU council agrees requirements on vehicle recycling at their end of use
BRUSSELS, June 17 (Reuters) - The Council of the European Union said on Tuesday it had agreed on setting requirements to ensure that new vehicles are designed in a way that supports their re-use and recycling. In a statement, the council said its position was based on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime, an environmental policy under which producers are held responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste management. "The regulation in particular introduces a mandatory target for recycled plastics and opens the possibility to set future targets for recycled steel, aluminium, and critical raw materials," the council said. In a statement, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) welcomed the council's position, adding it should not weigh on the sector's competitiveness. "The new end-of-life vehicle recycling rules must be technically feasible and supported by a coherent framework. Transforming end-of-life-vehicle recycling will not happen overnight," said ACEA director general Sigrid de Vries. The council will now start negotiations with the European Parliament on the definitive setting of the rules.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla sales slump across Europe amid backlash against Musk
Sales of new Tesla electric cars are sliding across Europe, data suggests, amid a political backlash against its billionaire chief executive, Elon Musk. The figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) showed registrations for new Teslas halved in April compared to the same month a year earlier, despite a broader rise in battery electric vehicles overall. The electric carmaker faces widespread backlash against Musk's political ties to Donald Trump, and vocal support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. Russ Mould, of the investment broker AJ Bell, said the drop in registrations 'suggests the brand damage caused by Elon Musk's political interventions may be lasting. 'The company may also be suffering from its lack of tyre print in the hybrid market with many motorists still wary of going fully electric,' he said. According to the latest snapshot, the ACEA said Tesla registrations fell from 14,228 in April 2024 to 7,261 last month, a decline of 49%, in the EU, the UK, and the broader European Free Trade Association bloc – which consists of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. However, overall battery electric car sales rose by 27.8% in April, compared with a 22.4% drop in petrol cars and a 24.7% drop in diesel cars. Sales of plug-in hybrid cars rose by 31.3%. Total car registrations rose most for the Chinese state-owned manufacturer SAIC, owner of the British brand MG, and the Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi. This year sales at Tesla have fallen in some of its biggest markets and there have been political protests at some of its showrooms. In the UK, the company registered just 512 new vehicles in April, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, down 62% from a year earlier. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum last week, Musk told Bloomberg that while Europe was Tesla's weakest market, it was 'strong everywhere else', and although it had 'lost some sales paths on the [political] left', it had 'gained them on the right'. Tesla reported a 13% drop in vehicle sales in the first three months of this year, which made it the worst quarter since 2022. However, shares in Tesla have rallied by about 25% in the past month, after reports that Musk will be reducing his time spent advising the Trump administration. Tesla shares are still down 6% in the year to date. There had been hopes of a revival in demand after the company launched its updated Model Y car in China and in Europe, although weak sales figures suggest that reception of the redesign has been lukewarm. While politics have affected Tesla sales in Europe, analysts at the investment bank UBS have also suggested that in China, Tesla is losing to local electric vehicle brands. Last year the Chinese brand BYD reported global sales of more than $100bn (£83bn) last year, overtaking Tesla as the world's biggest electric car company by revenue. Tesla was approached for comment. Sign in to access your portfolio
