RETech Meets IFAT Munich 2024

German RETech Partnership e.V. (RETech) and its members can look back on a successful IFAT Munich 2024. From May 13 to 17, the world's leading trade fair for environmental technologies showcased the diversity and sustainable developments of the German waste and recycling industry. The trade show hosts up to to 142,000 visitors from almost 170 countries and regions.

In her welcoming speech, Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, emphasized that close cooperation between economic players across the entire international value chain is necessary to achieve a circular economy. 

The strengthening of cooperation and the exchange of information was also the aim of RETech, as a networking platform, for IFAT Munich 2024 and thus also reflected in the extensive weekly program. 
 

Highlights of IFAT Munich 2024 for RETech:

• Record number of delegations: RETech and its members received 18 delegations at IFAT. Political, private sector and scientific representatives from countries and regions such as Africa Continent, Egypt, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Ghana, Hong Kong, Canada, Qatar, Malaysia, MENA region, Nigeria, Rwanda, Romania, South Africa, Ukraine and the United Nations visited the RETech stand.
• Active participation: RETech played a central role in the discussion on the international implementation of the circular economy and, together with members and network partners, organized four panel discussions on the Orange Stage and various workshops to shed light on the urgent issues: context-based adaptable solutions, sustainable solutions from Germany as a competitive advantage, financing a circular economy and framework conditions for establishing efficient waste management.
• Presence at the joint BMUV stand: The proximity to politics was ensured by the representation at the stand of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) and was used intensively for the exchange between delegations and members.
• Bringing politics and business closer together: For the first time, RETech conducted tours of the trade fair for employees of the BMUV in order to bring politics and business together.

The numerous talks, discussions and exchange formats have shown that, in addition to the implementation of German environmental technologies to tackle the global waste problem, appropriate financing options and the transfer of knowledge also play a decisive role. RETech occupies a special position here as an interface for communicating needs and offers from Germany and abroad. 

As a network platform, RETech is delighted about the new collaborations and the increased global cooperation for the realization and implementation of international circular economy concepts. Special thanks go to the BMUV's Export Initiative for Environmental Protection, all RETech members, the network and partners as well as the entire IFAT Munich team.