For immediate release IMA-EUROPE PUBLISHES ITS ROADMAP TO 2050 “IMAGINE THE FUTURE WITH INDUSTRIAL MINERALS” The Industrial Minerals Sector 2050 Roadmap was launched on 24 September, on the occasion of the IMA-Europe 20th Anniversary Conference, in attendance of around 120 key stakeholders among which many executives from the global industrial minerals (IM) industry. The Roadmap outlines the industrial minerals sector’s response to the European Commission “Roadmap for moving to a competitive, low carbon economy in 2050” and the “Flagship initiative for a resource-efficient Europe”. It defines how the sector can contribute to achieving the goals established in those documents. Policy makers, EU citizens, downstream users and all the players in the transition to a greener economy are invited to acknowledge that this transition cannot be made without industrial minerals, or even, as is commonly suggested, by “using less” when it comes to industrial minerals. They are also essential to a more resource efficient and sustainable future. Looking at the role industrial minerals play in today’s economy and how industry will continue to meet the demand in an innovative, sustainable and resource efficient way, it provides a vision for 2050 and how we will get there. “With the right policies and partnerships in place, we are confident that this vision can become reality,” stated Daniel J. Reuss, IMA-Europe President. The Roadmap highlights commitments such as:       Reducing specific energy consumption by half; Reducing transport emissions by increasingly moving from truck-based freight to rail and barge, where feasible; Maximising resource use by working towards a zero-waste business model and Improving recycling by 20%, Improving safety by implementing the IMA-Europe Target Zero Injury strategy. Protection and promotion of biodiversity, engagement with customers, local communities and the workforce are also in the focus, while the sector will continue to evolve towards a true materials science industry developing new multifunctional industrial minerals allowing users to improve their own efficiency. To illustrate how the industry is working towards these goals, insightful company case studies were presented at the IMA Conference. The Roadmap is published on www.imaginethefuture.eu. Paper copies can be obtained through the IMA Secretariat. Contact: [email protected] Press contact: Ms Amina Langedijk, Tel. 02 210 44 12, [email protected] Industrial Minerals Association Europe aisbl, in short “IMA-Europe” Established under the Belgian law under the enterprise / VAT number BE 0452.946.151 rue des Deux Eglises 26, Box 2, B - 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: 32 2 210 44 10, Fax: 32 2 210 44 29, E-mail: [email protected], www.ima-europe.eu About IMA-Europe IMA-Europe provides sector based representation for industrial minerals, especially at EU institutional level. Under its umbrella, IMA-Europe represents the European producers of andalusite, bentonite, borates, calcium carbonate, cristobalite, diatomite, dolomite, feldspar, kaolin, kaolinitic clays, lime, mica, quarz, sepiolite, talc, vermiculite and wollastonite - i.e. around 500 mineral companies or groups, which operate more than 700 mines and quarries and 750 plants throughout Europe. Its members offer direct employment to some 42.500 people and process an annual volume of some 180 million tonnes of industrial minerals, contributing a value of around Euro 10 billion to Europe's gross domestic product. Introduction to the IM Roadmap 2050 by Daniel J. Reuss, IMA-Europe President Concluding key note by Mr Mattia Pellegrini, European Commission Industrial Minerals Association Europe aisbl, in short “IMA-Europe” Established under the Belgian law under the enterprise / VAT number BE 0452.946.151 rue des Deux Eglises 26, Box 2, B - 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: 32 2 210 44 10, Fax: 32 2 210 44 29, E-mail: [email protected], www.ima-europe.eu