APPLiA - Home Appliance Europe

👩🔬 Girls' Day at Bosch Home Comfort Group: Empowering the next generation of tech talent! On April 3rd, we welcomed 20 curious girls between the ages of 12 and 15 to our sites in Lollar and Wernau.   🧩 The day kicked off with a fun and informative start. The girls took part in our “Climate Heroines” escape game, a hands-on way to explore the topic of sustainability. They also got to know Bosch better through a company presentation.   📌 In Wernau, creativity met engineering when the girls built their own plug-in robots. 📌 In Lollar, they explored our technical vocational training and tried out hands-on activities as you’ll see in the video.   💡 Why we do this: STEM professions are still dominated by men and that needs to change. By giving young women early access to technical experiences, we can spark passion, boost confidence and open up new possibilities.   🎥 Curious what it looked like? Check out the video (English subtitles available):

Today I took part in the Civil Society Dialogue on EU trade policy and economic security, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, with its Director General Sabine Weyand. In a fully globalised industry like ours, a coherent and predictable policy framework is essential. These were my key takeaways: ✅ CBAM must extend to downstream products to ensure a level playing field. 
✅The Single Market must remain unified, with no national deviations. 
✅ Enforcement must guarantee that only compliant products are placed on the EU market – including those sold through online marketplaces. Clarity and consistency are key to strengthening Europe's internal market.

The recipe to a smooth Omnibus ride? 🚌 As the European Commission prepares its next Omnibus proposal, the focus is rightly on simplifying legislation to support competitiveness. However, APPLiA's analysis reveals critical overlaps and inconsistencies on 14 key regulations that impede the Single Market and inflate administrative burden. In our latest paper, we outline practical recommendations to reduce bureaucracy and improve legal coherence by tackling overlaps, double regulation, and unclear definitions. Take a closer look ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dyr-J_sy #RegulatorySimplification #SingleMarket #Competitiveness

📍Today, our Senior Policy Director for Digital & Competitiveness, Michał Zakrzewski, joined the Industrial Task Force meeting on the Simplification Omnibus, organised by the European Commission. The focus: aligning EU product legislation with the digital age. ℹ️ We support a modern approach that reflects how consumers access information today. Reducing paper use means cutting costs for manufacturers and lowering CO₂ emissions. With 93% of Europeans regularly online (Eurostat, 2024), this shift is both timely and necessary. 📲 Product information is already widely available online, with nearly 1 in 5 users accessing it directly through company websites. The solutions exist — and are ready to be used. ⚙️ The DPP comes with associated costs, while much of the information consumers need is already available online. Therefore, we should make sure to leverage all readily available digital solutions.

🔔 Following the release of the EU’s AI Action Plan for the Digital Decade, the global home appliance industry reaffirms its commitment to integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into appliances in a way that brings tangible benefits to consumers, society, and the environment. AI is driving a shift from basic functionality to personalised services, improving energy efficiency, supporting sustainability goals, and helping extend product lifespans while accelerating the industry's transition to carbon neutrality. To address the risks and responsibilities of this transformation, the sector strictly follows global data security rules, protects user privacy, develops inclusive AI solutions, and upholds strong ethical standards. Take a closer look at the statement below 👇 Discover more about the International Roundtable of Household Appliance Manufacturer Associations (IRHMA) at www.irhma.org The Association of European Businesses — AEB KEA(Korea Electronics Association) China Household Electrical Appliances Association (CHEAA) Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association (JEMA) South African Domestic Appliances Association (SADA)

Strategic. Inclusive. Accountable. 🧩 That’s what decision-making looked like during the ESAE - European Society of Association Executives Governance & DEI Community session “Mastering Decision-Making in Association Boards,” hosted by our Director General Paolo Falcioni, Chiara Gasparotto, and Antoine Druetz. Rather than just talking about governance, participants experienced it. Through a hands-on, gamified format, the session explored how real boards work. We looked at what slows decisions down, how different association structures influence outcomes, and how internal dynamics shape discussions around the table. What stood out? The importance of clear roles, open debate, and understanding how group dynamics play out in real time. A great session to rethink how decisions are made — and what can make them better.

MEP João Cotrim de Figueiredo hosted last night's APPLiA sponsored #EFM dinner debate on the EU's most recent Affordable Energy Action Plan. We explored solutions for lowering #energy costs and enhancing #competitiveness, particularly regarding appliance #affordability. 🔹A strong call for urgent action on lowering production costs, immediate electricity market reform, a tech-neutral clean energy approach, and bolstering European value chains for critical raw materials, alongside startup support, was articulated by MEP Letizia Moratti. 🔹MEP Bruno Gonçalvez looked into short and long-term solutions, including tax reductions, electricity pricing redesign, and a strong emphasis on energy independence through grid interconnections and revised state aid rules. An holistic approach that is much appreciated. 🔹The imperative for a swift phase-out of fossil fuels, prioritising clean energy electrification and efficiency, alongside the need for legislative stability was powerfully advocated by MEP Benedetta Scuderi. We thank her for her strong vision for a sustainable future. 🔹MEP Yuri Ratas underscored the critical importance of completing the energy union to tackle energy price fragmentation and enhance the EU's security of supply. We appreciate the emphasis on unity and resilience. 🔹A perspective on balancing decarbonisation with competitiveness, advocating for a pragmatic energy mix including continued use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy, was shared by Fernand Kartheiser. Thank you for bringing this crucial aspect into the discussion! We also greatly thank Tom Howes, Adviser for Green Transition and Market Regulation at DG ENERGY, for the valuable insights into upcoming Commission guidance on grid connections and tariffs, the grids package, and electrification/heating strategies for next year. The EU Commission's committment to stakeholder feedback is a key step forward. Thank you to all our speakers who contributed to make the dinner a a vital exchange underscoring valuable and varying perspectives and challenges in achieving affordable and secure energy for the EU 🇪🇺

Last night’s menu? Affordable energy for all. ⚡🍽️ Together with the European Forum for Manufacturing, we hosted a dinner debate at the European Parliament to unpack the Affordable Energy Action Plan and its role in advancing efficient and affordable energy use across Europe. 📢 APPLiA’s Director General, Paolo Falcioni, emphasised the key role of energy-efficient home appliances in reducing energy consumption and delivering long-term savings. With voices from EU institutions, industry, and stakeholder organisations, the discussion touched upon: 🔹Clear measures to boost energy efficiency 🔹The need for a stable and forward-looking regulatory framework 🔹How innovation and smart technologies can drive down energy bills Thank you to all our speakers,João Cotrim de Figueiredo,Tom Howes, Emilie STUMPF, Arianna Vitali Roscini, Ulrich Adam, Miriam Munnich Vass, Marion Ebel, MEPs Letizia Moratti, Bruno Gonçalves and Benedetta Scuderi, Laurens Rutten, Jo Dardenne, Felix Kriedemann, Carl Telford, MEPs Jüri Ratas and Fernand Kartheiser for the valuable insights and to the European Forum for Manufacturing for co-hosting this insightful event. Read the event report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dTf-XWhE

Congratulations to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) on an outstanding event! Over the past three days, I had the pleasure of attending the AHAM Annual Event “In Bloom.” It was a truly enlightening experience—not only for the insightful discussions around today’s economic uncertainties, but also for the high caliber of speakers who offered diverse perspectives: from consumers and housing to retail, the broader economy, and global trade. I was particularly impressed by AHAM’s long-term strategic vision outlined by the AHAM CEO and Chairman, Dr Dochul Choi, and the inspiring keynote by Beko CEO and APPLiA - Home Appliance Europe President, Hakan Bulgurlu who spoke powerfully about the environmental challenges we face and the vital role the home appliance industry plays in addressing them. A heartfelt thank you to Kelly Mariotti, JD, CPA, CAE and her incredible team for the kind invitation and for welcoming me and APPLiA at a time when cooperation and collaboration are more essential than ever. A special thanks to Sriram Gopal and Meagan Hatch, ICD.D for the monthly calls and the great cooperation on the many issues affecting the industry. #circulareconomy #internationalcooperation

📣 Today, the European Commission presented its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Continent Action Plan, a major initiative to accelerate and scale AI innovation across Europe. While we support the EU's ambition for AI leadership, we emphasise the need for practical implementation, clear guidelines, and genuine collaboration. 🗣️ "AI is key to improving production and product quality in the home appliance industry, benefiting European consumers today," said our Director General Paolo Falcioni. "However, for the Action Plan to reach its full potential, regulations must be clear and practical, avoiding burdens that could hinder innovation." Key actions include: 1️⃣ Facilitating the integration of AI into production processes 2️⃣ Creating a harmonised and practical regulatory framework under the AI Act 3️⃣ Promoting continuous collaboration with industry stakeholders Read our full reaction at https://lnkd.in/dw2e3sYT