The 'nightmare of the plastics industry' bids farewell to FRF after 24 years
After 24 years, Robbert van Duin is saying goodbye to the organisation he founded. Then known as Recycling Netwerk Benelux, now known as Fair Resource Foundation. In 2018, Trouw called him 'the nightmare of the plastic industry'. Reason for relief among the major chemical companies that he is stopping? Or perhaps not?
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A brief look back at the work of founder and former director and chairman Robbert van Duin at Recycling Netwerk / FRF:
“Tripped over the smallest pebble”
They almost succeeded in abolishing the entire deposit system in 2015. The manufacturers only had to put an end to PVC in packaging. Or make politicians believe they had. Unfortunately for them, Robbert van Duin showed in front of several supermarkets, with the rolling cameras of KRO Brandpunt, that this was not true. So the deposit system remained. The manufacturers' lobbyist looked back: “We tripped over the smallest pebble.” Too bad for them.
Polder criminality
“Covering thousands of sports pitches with millions of rubber crumbs is a form of polder criminality”, according to Robbert in 2016. “The result is that large quantities of zinc and other harmful substances end up in the soil and water”. Recycling Netwerk filed a report against this practice. The court imposed fines. A total ban is still pending, but has been announced EU-wide from 2031.
Trouw: “The plastic industry's nightmare”
In 2018, Robbert van Duin was featured in Trouw’s Sustainable 100. Trouw noted a comment made by a lobbyist to Robbert: “For every hour you put into this file, we have to put ten people to work. But we just do it. So stop it.” Trouw continued: “But Van Duin did not stop.”
Driver and scientist
In addition to concrete environmental results, Robbert has also founded several environmental groups. In the 1980s, he co-founded the Zuid-Hollandse Milieufederatie and started the leading energy and environmental research institute CE Delft. 24 years ago, he started Recycling Netwerk Benelux, now known as Fair Resource Foundation. 10 years ago, he made way for Rob Buurman to become director. Now he is also stepping down as chairman, bringing an end to his time at FRF.
But for the plastic industry, the nightmare is not yet over, because FRF builds on what Robbert van Duin created and will continue to work towards ending the throwaway economy.
Interview in Trouw for the Sustainable 100 (2018):
Robbert’s fight against rubber granulate on sports pitches at Zembla (2017)
TV programme Haagse Lobby on the battle over deposits(2016 from 23:58)
Robbert van Duin showed on KRO Brandpunt that there was still a lot of PVC in packaging(2015)
