This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Meetings between DG DEVCO and Consultancies'.



Ref. Ares(2020)957073 - 14/02/2020
Ref. Ares(2020)1965934 - 07/04/2020
From: 
 
Sent: 
jeudi 13 février 2020 18:56 
To: 
URPILAINEN Jutta (CAB-URPILAINEN); BARTELT Sandra (CAB-URPILAINEN); 
BORISSOVA Lora (CAB-URPILAINEN); LAHTI Taneli (CAB-URPILAINEN); 
 MONTERO MELIS Diana (CAB-
URPILAINEN); SAVIGNAT Renaud (CAB-URPILAINEN); SORO-PESONEN Kaisa 
(CAB-URPILAINEN);
 
Cc: 
VIRTANEN Arto (CAB-URPILAINEN); 
 
Subject: 
Meeting with chemical industry company Kemira on GD, wastewater 
directive and circular economy 
 
Subject: Meeting with chemical industry company Kemira on GD, wastewater directive and circular 
economy 
Date: 13 Feb 2020 
Participants: 
 
 
Arto Virtanen 
 
 
Kemira, Finnish chemical industry company, requested a meeting with cab Urpilainen to present their 
views on the urban wastewater treatment directive, circular economy and on Green Deal. Kemira 
operates in pulp and paper as well as in water intensive industries and municipal water treatment. 
Kemira is a market leader in Europe (with 30% share of the market) but also in the US and for instance in 
Ghana. The company recognizes that up-to-date regulations are necessary drivers for investment and 
thus welcomes the recast of the urban wastewater treatment directive (UWWTD), adopted in the 
1990s, as the directive is outdated. Company underlined that: 

Urban wastewater remains one of the main sources of phosphorus emissions; 

Emission limit values (especially phosphorus) in water discharges should be tightened (now the 
limit value for phosphorus is 1-2%, but Nordic wastewater treatment plants get currently as low 
as to 0,2%. Therefore limit value could be set at 0,5%); 

The requirements of the directive must be implemented fully and equally in all MSs; 

Reporting of compliance performance should be reviewed and improved, to better support the 
enforcement of the directive; 

Wastewater treatment plants need to upgrade their technology to protect the quality of surface 
and ground waters; 

Managing storm water flows should be made mandatory at the EU level as safe and cost-
effective solutions exist. 
 
As regards the ongoing debate on emerging pollutants and particularly micro plastics, Kemira can 
remove 90% of micro plastics from wastewater. Company is currently testing different technologies on 
the micro plastics in liquid form (such as on residues of pharmaceutical products). 
 
As regards the forthcoming circular economy action plan and the European Green Deal in general, 
Kemira welcomes the intention to turn the EU economy from linear to circular model. The company 
criticized, however, the Green Deal communication for its lack of water related initiatives
. They