Call for Demand Creation; letter to European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra | 2024

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Platform Renewable Fuels took part in writing a letter to European Commisionner Wopke Hoekstra with an urgent call to action to save  European industy. A Coalition of companies, trade associations came together to call on EU to create market demand for clean industrial products.

The creation of a market demand for cleaner industrial products is crucial to protect the future of European industry and enable clean growth. This will provide European companies with better prospects for investing in clean industrial products as well as allowing Europe to become more resilient. The need is urgent: clean investment flows are currently drying up in Europe, and some companies are already closing down. This Call for Demand Creation is supported by a broad coalition of more than 70 companies, trade and network associations and NGO's representing thousands of businesses and citizens. 

Market demand needs to be created 

Creating European market demand for cleaner industrial products is essential to keep European industry alive and thriving. At the same time, it will provide more secure supplies, jobs, as well as innovation towards sustainability. The industry is capable of producing cleaner products and is eager to do so, but the demand side requires a stimulus.

A proven formula 

Demand creation has already proven itself: for example, gasoline suppliers are required to buy sustainable fuels for 10 percent of the volume they supply. And it works. By building on such examples and introducing lead markets across many more industrial products — such as cleaner-produced plastics, rubber, steel,building materials, and fuels — investments can resume. Demand creation through both public tenders and the private market is key. 

No time to lose 

With only 15 years remaining until emission allowances for industry run out, there is no time to waste. This Coalition urges the European Commission to stimulate demand for clean production in the Clean Industrial Deal, the Circular Economy Act, and in the Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act. The Call for Demand Creation and its signatories can be found at the following link. The Call is open for additional signatories.

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Read the letter by downloading it on the right hand side or by clicking here.

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