ARN in 2020

The attained level of recycling performance was indeed an impressive achievement, particularly in view of the fact we’ve never had so little physical contact with our chain partners. Company visits were practically impossible, meaning contact was mainly by phone and online. A great shame for an industry that relies so much on cooperation and trust, two things that crave personal contact.

But despite the fall in interaction, the volume of realised recycling stayed just as high. The change of course previously set in motion by ARN helped: from chain director to facilitator and, where necessary, the initiator that puts in place the required preconditions. But this is only possible if chain partners assume their respective responsibilities for high-value recycling. In other words, with a 360-degree view outside, we take care of the overarching activities, while companies in the car-recycling chain do what they do, at the very least according to legal requirements. And should recycling circumstances or requirements change, side-by-side we collectively find the appropriate solutions.

Sometimes, ARN actually instigates changes. In 2020, for example, together with stakeholders we lobbied to make the recycling contribution applicable to used cars imported into the Netherlands. This will make the rules the same for all Dutch-registered cars, thus laying down a level playing field. It’s a positive step that further reinforces the foundation for car recycling in the Netherlands. For more information go to www.wemakenerietsmooisvan.nl

At ARN we continuously strive to create fair relationships and good conditions for recycling. To stay ahead of the game, we explicitly look to the future

Ingrid Niessing, Managing Director ARN Holding B.V.

At ARN we continuously strive to create fair relationships and good conditions for recycling. To stay ahead of the game, we explicitly look to the future. In 2020, for example, we developed possible scenarios for 2030 by describing the conventional car, the connected car and the circular car. As a car-recycling chain, it is incumbent on us to already start looking at the repercussions that these scenarios will have on how producers meet their responsibilities in future. Make no mistake: those 2030 scenarios will affect what we do. They represent a future that will have become far more complex. ARN is already doing the necessary groundwork, constantly monitoring developments in our environment and the consequences that they will have for car recycling.

In 2020 we set up an innovation commission to facilitate the acquisition of external expertise. This expertise will help our chain partners to keep recycling cars sustainably in 2030, as well as address the themes that are relevant to recycling. In this context we are focusing on, among other things, the composition of vehicles, car batteries and changing business models. Topics that are extensively discussed throughout this Sustainability Report. In conjunction with stakeholders, including the government, we intend to further explore how the car-recycling chain should proceed going forward.

I’ll conclude by saying that ARN supports a well-functioning car-recycling chain, in close collaboration with the sector that takes responsibility for what it does. We currently find ourselves in the middle of a transition from conventional fossil-fuel-powered to electrically powered vehicles. The world of car recycling is in flux and this will bring about huge changes. ARN is alert to these changes and more than willing to take the lead, but we cannot do so without you. We therefore urge everyone who plays a role in or around the sector to join us in collectively defining the complexion of car recycling in this transition.

Would you like to know more about ARN or provide input? Check out the other sections of this Sustainability Report, visit www.arn.nl, www.greenlight.nl and follow us on social media.

Ingrid Niessing, Managing Director ARN Holding B.V.