Since then, the collective effort has led to a recycling percentage that can hardly be improved upon. The focus is therefore shifting towards increasingly high-quality reuse. In this way, the circular economy of the car recycling sector is becoming increasingly mature. In the battery chain, many efforts are being made in the areas of collection, processing, and safety.
Impact of Own Organization
ARN finds its reason for existence in the sustainability of the car recycling chain and the car battery recycling chain. The impact of this work is incomparably large compared to the impact of its own operation with about twenty employees. The latter is no less important, which is why the company itself pursues a conscious policy on both environmental aspects and personnel policy.
Working Consciously
ARN facilitates working from home and promotes online meetings. In this way, we limit the number of transport movements and offer employees the freedom to organize their own work (methods and times). When travel is necessary, we prefer public transport. The cars made available to employees are predominantly electric, such as those of the management and management team. Office materials and equipment are used consciously.
The annual ARN Relation Day took place in 2024 at Circa, the first circular conference location, in Amsterdam. The more than 200 participants could choose from a wide range of vegetarian dishes.
Open Culture, Diverse Team
ARN expects a lot from its employees and therefore wants to be a good employer. This starts with the fact that we pay a lot of attention to the open, professional, and goal-oriented culture of the team. At the same time, we are also mindful of the workload and promote a safe atmosphere for reporting any undesirable behavior, risks, and misconduct. We also have policies in the area of training and education.
When recruiting new colleagues, we take into account the composition of our team. We value diversity because it helps us better ensure the quality of our policies and decisions. As an engaged company, we also want to provide opportunities for (young) talent and therefore offer internships.
There is a complaints procedure and a confidential committee has been installed. No complaints were reported in 2024. Naturally, an occupational health physician is associated with the organization and the risk inventory and evaluation (RI) is reassessed annually.
Involved in the Chain
The result of the recycling chains that ARN focuses on depends on the professionalism of the people in that chain. The quality (purity) of streams is related to this, as well as the protection of the environment in the immediate vicinity. Moreover, dismantling, draining, and processing materials and parts can involve personal risks (if done improperly). That’s why ARN offers targeted training to car dismantling companies.
Governance
The work, commitment, and management of ARN benefit from transparency and good governance. In 2024, a two-year intensive process was completed that further simplified and strengthened the governance around ARN. The Auto Recycling Foundation has achieved, through a change in its statutes, that roles, powers, and responsibilities are more clearly indicated and more distinct from each other. This has reduced complexity and increased the decisiveness of both the board and the management.
ARN enjoys a lot of trust, both administratively and operationally. This is carefully monitored, on the one hand through independent research, on the other hand through informal contacts. It is significant that at the beginning of 2025, the top 20 importers unanimously responded positively (by signing) to the request to support the application for a new generally binding declaration (AVV). And only needed six weeks to do so. Based on the AVV, agreements regarding the implementation of extended producer responsibility are declared generally applicable by the government (see also here Impacts, Risks and Opportunities).
Meeting Frequency
In 2024, both the Supervisory Board and the Foundation Board met quarterly for regular meetings, in addition to the semi-annual shareholders’ meeting (AGM). Additionally, several formal and informal meetings took place around specific themes.
The Innovation Advisory Council meets four times a year with management and executives. This council primarily has a signaling function in the area of innovations that may be relevant or interesting for ARN.