For ten years, the FRP industry has been searching for a sustained concept for the recyling of its products and a long- term financing scheme. As part of the JEC Composites Show (JEC SA, F-75008 Paris; www.globalcomposites.com), which took place from 1-3 April 2003 in Paris, the industry officially announced its recycling strategy with the name of “The Green FRP Recycling Label”, also known as “The Green Label”. On occasion of the exhibition forum “Automobile & Composites”, the organisers Robert Lassartesses of Renault (F-92513 Boulogne-Billancourt; www.renault.com), Fons Harbers of DSM Composite Resins (HQ: NL-8000 AA Zwolle; www.dsm.com) and Pascal Diaz of Groupe Inoplast (F-07340 St. Desirat; www.inoplast.com) presented details of the new concept. While the automotive industry is the largest customer, it also seems to be the initiator of this new recycling campaign.

At the centre of the new strategy is the licence label for the “European Composite Recycling Concept”, which is planned to be applied to articles directly after their production. The concept is planned to be financed by a fixed membership fee for raw materials producers, compounding companies or processing companies which is to be added to a weight-related charge. This year´s proceeds from membership fees are to be used for implementing new FRP recycling concepts for used components and production waste.

• Plasteurope.com Service: Brochure “Closing the Composite Loop”: PIE-No. 46076.