Sustainability
Together with the digital transformation, sustainability has become a major challenge impacting on materials handling equipment manufacturers’ business. This translates into a variety of initiatives related to how companies conduct their business (e.g. end-of-life recycling, use of renewable energy, as well as innovations aimed at constantly increasing the sustainability of equipment and services (e.g. energy efficiency, electrification, use optimisation…). Many manufacturers are also taking strong and ambitious commitments, notably as regards their carbon footprint.
As the green transition is one of the top EU priorities, leading to a large number of regulatory initiatives, FEM advocates a transition that takes account of what is already happening in the industry and allows companies to maintain their competitiveness and innovation.
The materials handling industry covers various types of products, both stationary and mobile, powered by different energy sources. Besides the equipment, our industry also manufactures battery packs for mobile applications, such as shuttles, cranes and industrial trucks. FEM is working to ensure a timely implementation of the new EU Batteries Regulation. The EU legislation on batteries must strengthen European innovation and competitiveness, all the more since industrial mobile battery applications in our sector are mainly produced in the EU.
PFAS, a family of more than 10,000 human-made chemicals, are present in a variety of parts and components of all types of materials handling equipment. The reasons behind such a widespread use are well-known, pertaining to PFAS’ unique and cumulative properties. FEM is closely and actively monitoring the developments on the universal PFAS restriction proposal under the REACH framework and agrees with the principle of addressing those PFAS that pose a major issue. However, this should follow a follow a risk-based and substance-based approach across the whole life cycle (including manufacturing and end-of-life stage) so that the actual risk of specific substances in each phase is the main driver for potential regulation. Regulatory measures should consider the availability of alternatives that are suitable from a technical, economic and environment/health protection point of view.
Sustainability policies and legislation relevant to materials handling equipment includes:
- Batteries
- Chemicals (REACH, RoSH, PFAS)
- Waste
- Circular economy
For any questions
Please contact Silvia Alessi
Silvia Alessi
Adviser Environment and Climate