The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is delighted to announce that its President, Susie Burrage OBE, has been selected by Management Today for its Women in Leadership Power List 2025.
Burrage, who has just been re-elected to serve another term as BIR President, is also managing director of Recycled Products Ltd based in Chesham, UK. She has deep roots in the recycling sector and is the fourth generation of her family to own a metal recycling facility.
Open to senior leaders in organisations of all sizes, those selected for the Power List had to demonstrate their impact on key business metrics, whether it’s increased revenues or profitability, improving the effectiveness of a function or helping a business expand into new markets.
“I am truly excited to be part of the Power List 2025”, said Burrage. “During my time in the recycling industry, the prominence and importance of recycling has risen due to the shift in everyone’s focus on protecting our planet and mitigating climate change. Recycling protects the environment, minimises pollution, reduces the number of products going to landfill, conserves natural resources, saves energy and reduces the amount of harmful carbon dioxide emissions entering our atmosphere. I am very proud of the key role that recycling plays in the circular economy and reaching climate neutral objectives.”
At its inception in 1948, BIR was the first federation to support the interests of the recycling industry on an international scale. Today, BIR represents more than 30,000 companies around the globe, with a direct membership of over 1,000 companies and 36 national associations from 71 countries. Together, these members form the largest international recycling federation.
Since first becoming President just over two years ago, Burrage has steered the organisation to several achievements including strengthening its resources and structure, expanding its educational footprint, growing targeted communications outreach, including the launch of BIR’s flagship publication The Recyclist, and creating the right conditions to grow its acclaimed twice-yearly Convention. She has also reinforced the BIR Secretariat through the recruitment of five additional professionals to provide greater capacity to serve the membership and extend the global reach and impact of the organisation’s work.
“The sector has yet to reach its full potential,” Burrage emphasises. “To enable its growth, we must not only educate younger generations about the environmental and economic advantages of recycling but also advocate for free trade, sustainable resource management, and eco-design. This means creating products with recycled content and ensuring they can be easily recycled at the end of their life.”
“We must continue raising awareness across the board of the need to recycle. It is our duty as custodians of this planet to convince all citizens to get involved in recycling as it is ‘everybody’s business’, everyone has to be aware and play their part.”
