ETIRA Members Unite in Tallinn to Shape a Fairer, More Sustainable Market
May 21, 2025
A conference focused on compliance and the circular economy
The main conference day on 14 May brought together expert voices from across the industry. Sessions explored the intersection of circularity, chip technology, regulatory change, and business resilience. Jason Doran (Zhono) addressed barriers to reuse created by chip design, while Keypoint Intelligence presented new research on shifting print behaviours. ETIRA board member David Connett challenged businesses to embrace purposeful print, with a focus on trusted, compliant, high-value services aligned to future market needs.
Contributions from Richard Catley (Ricoh) and Juan Carot (Brother UK) further underlined the importance of the circular economy. They shared the remanufacturing journeys of their respective companies and the operational realities of delivering sustainability at scale.
In the afternoon, Jan de Kesel introduced the emerging role of Digital Product Passports in supporting transparency and compliance. The final two sessions centred on ETIRA’s work: Secretary General Vincent van Dijk gave a comprehensive update on Brussels-level policy, including progress on Ecodesign, sustainability, and anti-greenwashing rules. He also introduced the ETIRA 2025 Report, which outlines the association’s priorities and action plan for the year ahead.
Download the ETIRA 2025 Report here.
ETIRA President Javier Martínez then led a workshop on market risks and enforcement challenges, offering practical advice on WEEE, REACH, and other core compliance responsibilities.
ETIRA AGM: Strategy, oversight and new leadership
Following the conference, ETIRA members held the association’s Annual General Meeting. Members approved the 2024 accounts and adopted the 2025 budget. Elections to the ETIRA board were also held. The newly elected board is as follows:
- President: Javier Martínez
- Vice-President: Gerwald van der Gijp
- Board Members: Sara Ferreri, Jan-Michael Sieg, Peter Knak, Volker Kappius, and David Connett
Milan Banjac did not stand for re-election, and the general assembly thanked him for his valued contribution to ETIRA over the past years.
The AGM reaffirmed ETIRA’s strategic priorities: strengthening advocacy, particularly regarding the upcoming EU ecodesign regulation on the printing industry, ensuring fair market access, improving compliance, and supporting members across Europe in the transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.
Trade Day: Dialogue and deeper connections
On 15 May, the focus shifted to informal engagement. ETIRA members and other delegates took part in Trade Day, a slower-paced, high-value networking session that enabled deeper conversations between industry peers, supporters, and potential partners. One-to-one discussions, product demos and tabletop presentations helped build relationships and extend the dialogue begun during the conference.
Looking ahead
ETIRA remains committed to delivering a level playing field for remanufacturers across Europe through informed lobbying, practical support, and continued collaboration with its members. Events like The Recycler Live provide an essential meeting point to reinforce shared values, assess emerging risks, and drive the transition to a more sustainable, compliant and competitive imaging sector.