The RRRM's first panel session at WRF’23 will be held on September 5th, between 14:00-15:30 CET.
Format: Panel discussion. Hybrid (Geneva with live-streaming online)
Concept: Contributing to WRF’23’s “Value Chains: from extractive to regenerative value chains” discussions, the session will be based on a panel discussion and open Q&A.
This session introduces the RRRM, a multi-stakeholder initiative that focuses on the responsible production and sourcing of recycled metals. Using a collaborative approach, involving recyclers, processors, standards setters, industry associations, certification bodies, clients, and representatives of the informal sector, the Roundtable is seeking to review and connect existing bodies of work and to produce recommendations in relation to voluntary sustainability standards, guidance and tools that are applicable to the recycled metals value chain.
The panel will explore the current drivers for change, including legislative development and downstream user expectations; how well voluntary sustainability standards and guidance currently meet these expectations and what enhancements can be made to help meet these needs. Questions will be invited from delegates for discussion by the panel.
Panellists:
- Marcel Christians (Vice President, RD&I – Wieland-Werke AG)
- Michèle Brülhart (Executive Director – The Copper Mark)
- Patrick Davison (Director – Mayer Environmental)
- Sonia Valdivia (Scientific Director – World Resources Forum)
- Tyler Gillard (Chief Scientific Officer – Responsible Business Alliance)
- Dave Knight (One Planet, RRRM Facilitator). Chair
Marcel Christians (Vice President, RD&I and Sustainability – Wieland-Werke AG): At Wieland, Marcel has the pleasure of leading the teams that develop, guide and execute the Wieland Group’s sustainability activities as well as those that develop the technologies that are the foundation of a sustainable tomorrow. He also serves as Managing Director of Wieland Ventures. Prior to joining Wieland, Marcel has worked in VC, led a startup and worked at a large multinational. Marcel holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
Michèle Brülhart (Executive Director – The Copper Mark): With over 10 years of experience working on the design, implementation and independent assessment of sustainability standards, Michèle has evaluated and assisted companies at every level of the supply chain—from raw material to end product—and across multiple materials. She was previously the Director of Innovations at the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and served as the Head of Auditing at RCS Global for several years. She also previously held roles focused on responsible sourcing at Underwriters Laboratories, the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and STR Responsible Sourcing.
Patrick Davison (Managing Director – Mayer Environmental): Patrick is a sustainability and environmental practitioner with over 25 years’ experience of consultancy within the waste management and recycling sector. He has advised a variety of clients (public and private) on matters relating to European, UK and regional policy and legislation on circularity, recycling and compliance. He has led many high-profile research projects at a company and sector level, including the establishment of both Eire’s and the UK’s End of Life Vehicle recycling protocols, the UK’s steel packaging, and the initial WEEE recycling protocols and BREF guidance for Metal Shredding., and has specialised in the metals recycling sector for most of his career. He is an alumni of Cranfield School of Management, and Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Sonia Valdivia (Scientific Director – World Resources Forum): Since 2014, Sonia’s work has been focused on sustainable recycling industries and life cycle sustainability at the WRF. Since 2016, Sonia is Professor at the Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, associated with the Faculty of Sustainability. She is convener of the ISO standard 59014 under the Circular Economy and Environmental Management Technical Committees. Previous to WRF Sonia was UNEP Programme Officer and coordinated the Secretariat of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. Sonia has worked for organizations such as UNITAR and NACEC (North American Center for Environmental Cooperation), and as a GIZ coordinator of the Pan-American Network for Environmental Waste Management. She has an academic background in Industrial Engineering, with a Ph.D. in Environmental Management and Policies from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Tyler Gillard (Chief Strategy Officer – Responsible Business Alliance): Tyler joined the RBA with 20 years of senior-level experience in sustainability, supply chains, human rights, stakeholder engagement, and public policy. Previously, he was the Head of Due Diligence in the OECD’s Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, where he built and led the team that worked with governments and stakeholders to negotiate the OECD’s international standards for responsible business conduct. Tyler has worked with policymakers to design regulations on conflict minerals, modern slavery, deforestation, sustainability reporting, and responsible supply chains. He and his team at the OECD also worked closely with businesses, trade unions, and civil society to strengthen the alignment of industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives and the overall effectiveness of market-based mechanisms on sustainability in global supply chains.
Dave Knight (Founding Director One Planet Ltd; Panel Chair and facilitator RRRM): Dave is a business sustainability expert with 25 years’ experience in corporate responsibility and sustainable development across multiple industries. Dave has extensive experience in strategy development, responsible sourcing codes, guidance, certification schemes and standards design and development. As a Lead Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Lead Auditor and Responsible Steel Lead Auditor Dave has completed over 70 international engagements as a Lead Auditor/Assuror for Claims, Sustainability Reporting and site audits. He is a Board advisor and sits on a number of advisory groups. He holds an MSc (distinction) in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.