Page 18 - RB-98-2021-3

ASSOCIATIONS
Associations, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Environment; All United!
by Daniel Rojas, GM of the Association of Tyre Renovators and Retreaders
of Chile, ARNEC
profound changes in our daily lives and communities. We ver y much hope, that this opportunity will allow us to cement an essential change to transform the dusty street of the linear economy into the main avenue of the Circular Economy (composed, of course, of tyre derived crumb rubber in the asphalt mixture from an end-of- life tyre and with ample space for many, many trees growing strong and healthy).
From the original 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) technologies, today we are already in 10Rs (or more) as mentioned in the Circular Economy Action Plan of Portugal for the years 2017- 2020: Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Re-use, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover; a sequence of actions and iterations more adaptable to the difficulties we increasingly face as a society. Here it should be noted that each country carries out its own descent to the R's of the circular economy and where each Tyre Retreading Association must ensure it transmits the importance of the sector and its extraordinary value in this new “circular” World. For example, in the case of Chile, within the Law No. 20.920, better known as the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (EPR Law), preparation for re-use has been defined as a decisive action by allowing the use of an original product to be extended. However, the Association of
Tyre Renovators and Retreaders of Chile, ARNEC, embraced from its beginnings the sense of belonging to and participating in the definitions and guidelines offered by public policies. ARNEC did so, in general, as a contribution and commitment to the development and growth of a better country. Making a major effort, ARNEC sought to ensure that the renovation of tyres is carried out as an industrial activity that it is regulated through the Chilean Standard Norm
NCh3374:2015. This standard will be mandatory in the Tyre Decree of the EPR Law and where we are also considered as a valoriser, sharing a specific target with recycling for
categor y A tyres (tyres with a ring less than 57 inches).
In our sector, Tyre Retreading, it is necessar y to complement the already known and proven safety and cost benefits with the environmental issues in an empathetic and strategic way. All this, whilst engaging in a sincere and timely dialogue with local authorities and customers, especially now in times of great ambiguity. It is currently the case that our sector has a great opportunity to collaborate with the trucking industr y, yes, our principal customers. This is what we are trying to do in Chile by being a link with the government authorities in relation to three problems they are facing but that are related to ours: the lack of drivers (lack of personnel in plants due to rotation in pandemic times), the quality of the roads (responsibility of concessionaires) and the demand from their clients for the measurement of carbon dioxide emissions. (Tyre Retreading extends the use of the original product, decreases the need to manufacture new tyres and therefore contributes to a more efficient use of raw materials, energy and water required in the manufacturing processes and WE lead to a considerable reduction (one third) in carbon dioxide emissions!). Finally, all of this must be done through a transparent, close, and sincere dialogue.
We must continue to convey loudly that ever y retreaded tyre is one less tyre that is manufactured. Let us renew #ForTheNature and thus comply with one of the maxims of the circular economy: Get more for less. Today's times make it necessar y for us to listen more around us and prepare ourselves to realise our benefits within the global conversations that are already taking place in ever y corner of the World. The environment is a pillar of the new times, and Tyre Retreading is a natural and extraordinar y example that must certainly recover its place at the table. That is why each Tyre Retreading Association must be the voice of this timely stor yteller.
Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, better known as Plutarch of Chaeronea (AD 46–after AD 119), was a renowned Greek historian, biographer, essayist,
such as the present, this day should permeate each of us more deeply, especially now we have an unwanted guest, the COVID-19 pandemic.
priest, and philosopher, who coined the statement: "To know how to speak you have to know how to listen". In that spirit, let us listen to what is going on at each country's table with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and the environment. About a month ago (the 5th of June) a fundamental day was celebrated in the business world and the world in general - World Environment Day. There is no longer any doubt about the profound impact that human beings, through our development, are having on the planet. Scientific reports clearly demonstrate the effects on the acceleration of climate change and on the scarcity of resources that human activity has caused. Therefore, all, some more, others less, agree that something must be done, and the sooner the better, to care for and preserve our Environment. In uncertain and fragile times
Reflection requires us, in confinement, to appeal more strongly today to the sense of belonging; fundamental for all to (remembering Churchill) go forward together. It is here then, where the role of Associations become essential to establish a common and coherent stor yteller with objectives and principles that each sector or industr y seeks to transmit within the new themes that are taking place and where the Environment is a key cornerstone. This crucial topic is an important link to bring our sector closer to future generations concerned about climate change and the upgrade of the economy towards a circular economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still circulating in the environment, so it is essential to understand and recognise that what we are experiencing will bring with it more
18 Retreading Business