BRUSSELS, Belgium – 19 March 2013 – At the 3rd Annual Raw Materials Conference, hosted today in Brussels by the Nickel Institute, policymakers debated the issues and challenges surrounding EU raw materials policies. The Raw Materials Conference brings together leading representatives of industry, policymaking and national government around a policy area which is of vital importance for the competitiveness of EU industry, including for SMEs.

Making the case for a resource­‐efficient and competitive approach to raw materials policy in Europe, the Nickel Institute called on EU regulators to focus on ensuring consistency between policy goals so as to enhance and not hinder innovation and competitiveness.

Speaking at the conference, Dr Kevin Bradley, Nickel Institute President said that resource efficiency is common practice in the metals industry. “Saving energy, raw materials, process inputs and enhancing recycling are essential for our member companies to maintain their competitiveness on a global scale.”

“Metals such as nickel also contribute to resource efficiency. For instance, nickel‐containing stainless steel is durable, corrosion­‐resistant, has a long lifespan and can be ful y recycled – all properties which contribute to resource efficiency”, Bradley noted. Dr Bradley went on to warn that, “It’s important to remember that the EU competes with the US, China and the rest of the world. We need a global level playing field – not just a European one. It is in the interests of European jobs, innovation and competitiveness to ensure that EU policymakers focus on practical synergies around resource efficiency and competitiveness.”

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About the Nickel Institute
The Nickel Institute is a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of 23 companies which together produce more than 75% of the world’s annual nickel output. We promote on behalf of our members the production, use and re­‐use (through recycling) of nickel in a social y and environmentally responsible manner. The Nickel Institute was established in 2004, following the merger of the Nickel Development Institute (NiDI) and the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association (NiPERA). For more information, see http://www.nickelinstitute.org.