Technical Expertise Is Driving Europe's Circular Economy
Europe's transition to a circular economy is creating new opportunities for manufacturers willing to invest in expertise, collaboration, and credible verification.
Manufacturers across Europe are already adapting their operations to circular economy principles. While new regulations raise expectations around recycled materials, traceability, recyclability, and environmental claims, customers and regulators increasingly expect sustainability claims to be backed by credible evidence.
As requirements become more complex, businesses need more than compliance: they need the technical expertise to make informed decisions, establish the right systems, and build trust throughout the value chain.
Few people have witnessed that evolution as closely as Giordano Marini, Recycling Product Manager and Scheme Manager at Kiwa Italy, where he also works as a product inspector and lead auditor. Giordano has worked in recycling, product certification, and related technical fields for more than 20 years and has seen the industry go from a niche technical discipline into a strategic priority for manufacturers. Since joining Kiwa Italy in 2016, he has helped expand the company’s specialist recycling activities while collaborating with colleagues across the wider Kiwa organization.
Turn compliance into a competitive advantage
For Giordano, working in a circular economy is about more than meeting new legislation.
When I think about what the circular economy means for producers and manufacturers today, I see two main aspects. The first is regulatory requirements. The second is a strategic business opportunity.
This business opportunity is being accelerated by EU legislation and standards that introduce higher expectations around recyclability, recycled content, and product design. Manufacturers that prepare early can strengthen their market position while building greater confidence with customers and business partners.
Why traceability is the foundation of circularity
As expectations around sustainability claims continue to grow, trust has become one of the circular economy's most valuable assets. "Without traceability, there is no genuine circular economy,” says Giordano. “It is impossible to assess the environmental impact or the sustainability of a product."
Independent certification helps manufacturers demonstrate that recycled content and environmental claims are supported by robust evidence, rather than assumptions. Depending on the certification scheme, on-site audits may assess traceability, production records, material inputs and outputs, and mass-balance calculations, helping reduce the risk of greenwashing while giving customers, regulators, and other stakeholders greater confidence.
Technical expertise matters now more than ever
One of the biggest changes Giordano has witnessed is the growing demand for specialist knowledge.
When he began working in recycling certification, only a handful of auditors specialized in the field. Today, manufacturers face an increasingly complex mix of legislation, certification schemes, and customer expectations, making technical expertise more valuable than ever.
"My advice for companies is to start by understanding the regulatory framework applicable to their sector and work with experienced professionals to identify the most appropriate circular economy strategy. There are really many possible solutions, but not all of them deliver real value," he says.
"The real competitive advantage comes from making informed decisions based on technical expertise and reliable independent sources. In an increasingly competitive and complex market, knowledge and competence are what truly make the difference."
Building a stronger circular economy together
Yet technical expertise alone is not enough. Giordano believes collaboration across the value chain is equally important.
Giordano has seen firsthand how sharing technical expertise across Kiwa’s European network can help manufacturers respond to changing regulations and market expectations. He believes the same principle applies across the wider value chain.
“Companies need to understand regulatory developments well in advance and implement the necessary tools to meet increasingly demanding European requirements. Doing so not only helps them remain competitive, but also contributes to creating a more sustainable future,” says Giordano.
I truly believe recycling is an important part of sustainability. I have a family, and I am happy to work in a field where I can contribute to sustainability and help leave a better world for generations to come.
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