On Monday, October 27, 2025, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Autumn Convention opened at the five-star Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld in Bangkok, Thailand.The convention held from October 27 until October 28, gathered over 1,100 participants, including recycling-related companies, traders, policymakers, and research institutions from 58 countries, who engaged in lively discussions and business negotiations.
The convention is one of the world’s leading events representing the recycling industry, with the IRuniverse editorial team a media partner.
In the opening session on the first day, BIR President Sussie Burrage stated, "What we are exchanging here is not commodities, but knowledge and trust," emphasizing the importance of the international network. She emphasized the importance of the international network and stressed the continued commitment to promoting free trade and cooperation. She asserted that without access to open international markets, the recycling industry would be unable to develop, and investment in technological innovation could not be sustained.
President Burrage expressed her deep gratitude to all stakeholders supporting BIR, noting her sincere appreciation to the members for their trust, engagement, and continued support. She also announced that the next BIR Convention will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from June 1 to 3, 2026.
Following President Burrage’s opening address, Juan Verde, a corporate and government strategist who has advised U.S. Presidents Biden, Obama, and Clinton, delivered the keynote speech. He spoke about superpowers, trade trends, and the future of sustainability and recycling.
Mr Verde began his keynote speech by stating that the world was at a historical inflection point, explaining that the rules once governing free trade and the global economy no longer applied. He noted that a new world order was emerging—one that would significantly impact the recycling industry in particular—and his remarks immediately captured the audience’s attention.
His presentation covered three key areas:
- changes in geopolitical power, notably the rise of China
- global trends in technology, supply chains, conflicts and protectionism
- the future of sustainability and recycling
On the rise of China, He pointed out that as a result of the “success” of the United States and Europe in transferring their manufacturing and industrial capabilities to China, the country had become a superpower on par with the U.S. He observed that this rivalry was driving a new global scramble for resources, especially critical minerals.
He further noted that emerging fields such as 5G, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and space technology were all part of this growing competition among major powers. He emphasized that these developments were reshaping the global economy and would transform the recycling industry in ways previously unimaginable.
He went on to discuss the growing trend of regionalization and “friend-shoring” — the return of production to politically aligned countries — noting that major powers such as the United States were repatriating key industries and supply chains. He argued that this movement accelerated protectionist policies and intensified global competition for resource security, ultimately influencing the recycling industry.
He also emphasized that this new wave of protectionism also presented an opportunity for the sector, as countries would be compelled to make unprecedented investments to strengthen their domestic recycling capabilities. Mr. Verde underscored that the momentum toward sustainability would continue regardless of political shifts. He noted that the arrival of Mr. Donald Trump in the White House — a president who does not believe in climate change — would not change the direction of the green transition; it would only change the speed at which this revolution was taking place.
As reasons, Mr. Verde cited that the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) extended widely to Republican-leaning states and corporations, and that the private sector supported the green economy for reasons of resilience, national security, and industrial competitiveness.
Mr. Verde further analyzed that the critical mineral recycling market was expected to grow at an average annual rate of approximately 15% through 2033, making it the fastest-growing segment of the recycling industry. He also highlighted that global investment in recycling and the circular economy had exceeded USD 160 billion over the five years from 2019 to 2024 — a 40% increase compared with the previous period.
Concluding his keynote, Mr. Verde invoked the Greek term “Kairos” — meaning an opportune moment when everything changes — and stated that the recycling industry was now experiencing its own Kairos moment, building the foundation for a more sustainable, healthier, and peaceful world.
During the Q&A session, former BIR President Mr. Tom Bird expressed concern that the rush by many countries, particularly in Europe, to achieve net-zero targets was placing economic strain on citizens. In response, Mr. Verde remarked that Europe needed to find a way for the private sector to inject vitality and passion into the economy, observing that overregulation was currently stifling growth across the region.
After the keynote speech, Mr. Tanamachi, CEO of IRuniverse asked Mr. Verde about the impact of the soaring price of samarium — a key material for samarium–cobalt (SmCo) magnets used in defense technologies such as Patriot missiles — on the global defense industry. SmCo magnets are widely used in jet engines, guided weapons, and missile control systems because of their ability to maintain strong magnetic properties in high-temperature environments.
Mr. Verde responded, “The shift of geopolitical influence to Asia is one of the reasons for this. I wanted to convey in the keynote speech that the demand for critical rare earths is directly impacting global military power,” and further expressed interest in participating in the 13th Battery Summit in Tokyo, hosted by IRuniverse and scheduled for March 17–18, 2026.
The BIR Autumn Convention shed light on the complex challenges facing the global recycling industry, including geopolitical shifts, technological innovation, and the growing impact of protectionism. At the same time, it underscored new growth opportunities for the sector, such as increased investment in critical mineral recycling and the circular economy. In this context, the recycling industry is expected to play an increasingly strategic role—one that extends beyond resource circulation to contribute to sustainability, economic growth, and security.
IRuniverse aims to strengthen its global connections with industry stakeholders through this conference, using the occasion to promote its upcoming events and further expand its consulting activities. Detailed highlights of the conference will be released sequentially in the coming weeks.
(IRuniverse Midori Fushimi)
