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ITALY
AIRP Reports Both Challenges and Opportunities for Italian Retreading Sector
the package of European directives on the circular economy. Although it might appear more formal than substantial, this actually updates a series of objectives, principles and definitions, also indicating some possible tools for circular economy practices. Further and different legislative acts will be needed later to implement those environmental reward mechanisms that we have been researching for some time. " “There is no lack of opportunity to intervene,” underlined Carloni. “One possible solution would be a tax credit in favor of end users. This is a measure that would certainly offer an important lever to the market, concretely enhancing the environmental friendliness of retreading." Carloni also highlighted how it is necessary to enforce the mandatory 20% quota reserved for retreaded tyres in the purchases of replacement tyres by the vehicle fleets of public administrations and public service operators. This is a requirement contained in the Finance Act for 2002, a requirement that was dictated essentially for the purpose of protecting the environment, but which today, in the crisis situation we are experiencing, acquires even more importance, as it also allows significant savings in the management of public fleets and therefore of public spending. “Unfortunately,” Carloni remarked, “this requirement is rejected by many of the bodies who are required to apply it. It would therefore be advisable for public administrations to scrupulously observe the law regarding the use of retreaded
tyres, and this also in consideration of the fact that the 20% figure reserved for retreads is certainly not high. Just think of the case of France, which recently made the choice of retreaded tyres mandatory for 100% of tyre purchases made by the state (with the sole exception of military vehicles and vehicles for emergency services). In order to ensure the effective application and therefore the effectiveness of this measure, AIRP reiterates the need to introduce the obligation to verify the purchases made, also providing for a system of sanctions in case of non- compliance with the rule.”
The assembly continued with an update on institutional activities, by Guido Gambassi, Deputy Secretary of AIRP. In addition to an update on the composition of the board of BIPAVER, of which Gambassi himself has now become vice president, it was emphasised that Italy has recently implemented the "Circular Economy" package (ie the directives approved in May 2018 by the European Council) which provides for ambitious recycling and waste reduction targets for the EU countries, with a view to promoting a more general transition towards the circular economy. "This is an important step,” commented Gambassi, “that must be exploited to implement concrete measures in favour of sectors which, such as tire retreading, have always stood as a perfect example of the principles of the circular economy. Our task in the coming months will be to ask for an account of the application of these principles ".
The 58th AIRP General Assembly, held in reduced format due to anticovid measures on October 2 at the Italian Association’s offices in Bologna, found itself focusing on a combination of the problems to be faced by the industry and the possibilities that lie ahead, with several proposals to support the environmental benefits of retreading being considered.
In his introductory report, AIRP
it is easier to process them using the precured process rather than hot cure.
The situation remains difficult, however, above all due to the situation of the Italian road haulage sector, which remains "a real sick man" caught between competition from foreign operators and increasingly squeezed margins; Added to this is a product offer completely focused on the purchase price
Stefano Carloni, President of AIRP addresses the Association’s General Assembly
President Stefano Carloni took stock of the trends prevalent in the retreaded tyre market, which after a short period of recovery due to the introduction of duties on low cost tyres, has returned this year to record strong losses, which have been greater, in the first half of 2020, than the reduction in national GDP. The general data, he pointed out, "also contains entities that have suffered a more modest loss, and others that have more than halved their production, at least in the period concomitant with the lockdown."
There were also strong losses in the sale of passenger retreads, while an interesting fact emerges in the truck segment, namely the fact that the rate of decrease of hot retreads was double that of precured retreads, a trend that according to the president "could be associated with the arrival of new sizes (315/70 22.5 and 385/55 R22.5) as well as with the proliferation of many tyre brands that have significant dimensional differences, making
"with all due respect to proper management, low cost per kilometer, ecology", commented Carloni.
To complicate matters, however, the problem of the non- collection of ELTs has also been arisen in recent months, which is making life difficult for many tyre specialists and retreaders, raising great concern in the supply chain, especially in view of upcoming winter tyre change. This, said Carloni, is an issue that will require AIRP and other trade associations to make an urgent commitment to request solutions in good time, and strongly raise the problem at national level.
However, for Carloni, even in the face of these difficulties, there is no lack of opportunity to look carefully at how to help the sector: "On the political level, our reference framework necessarily remains that of the circular economy - from a strictly regulatory point of view, we only recently had an important step, with the transposition by Italy of
A video outlining The Recircle Awards was featured during the AIRP meeting
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