The General Assembly of GEIR (Groupement Européen de l’Industrie de la Régénération) has chosen Engineer Francesco Gallo, Operations Director and R&D Group Coordinator at Itelyum, to lead the European association for the upcoming term.
The handover from outgoing President Miltos Bantis — and the fact that it follows the earlier presidency of Itelyum CEO Marco Codognola — makes Gallo’s appointment further recognition of Italian excellence in the sector on a global scale.
Brussels, 2 September 2026 – The General Assembly of GEIR (Groupement Européen de l’Industrie de la Régénération), the European Union section of the UEIL Lubricant Industry representing over 80% of the used oil re-refining industry in Europe, has elected Francesco Gallo as its new President.
The handover takes place from Miltos Bantis, following a mandate focused on integrating the sector into new European environmental policies. For Italy and Itelyum — a national leader and international benchmark in the circular economy — this marks a return to the helm of the European body, following the earlier presidency held by Itelyum CEO Marco Codognola.
The Strategic Role of GEIR and the Challenges of the Circular Economy
The appointment comes at a crucial moment for European industry, on the eve of the European Commission’s presentation of the new Circular Economy Act (CEA). Used oil re-refining represents one of the most virtuous and concrete pillars of the circular economy: according to recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, re-refining processes can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 71% compared to producing base oils from virgin crude, while preserving strategic resources and reducing the EU’s energy dependence on third countries.
In this context, GEIR plays a fundamental role in promoting the waste hierarchy principle with EU institutions, advocating for policies to ban the incineration of used mineral oil and to introduce collection targets alongside the use of re-refined base oils (RRBO) as strategic industrial assets.
Profile of the New President
Francesco Gallo brings thirty years of strategic, technical, managerial, and regulatory expertise to the leadership of GEIR.
Currently Operations Director and R&D Group Coordinator at Itelyum Regeneration S.p.A., Gallo manages the company’s production plants in Pieve Fissiraga (Lodi) and Ceccano (Frosinone), and coordinates the Group’s technological innovation, digitalisation, and energy efficiency programs.
A chemical engineer who graduated from Politecnico di Milano, and holder of an Executive MBA and an Executive Master in Management, Gallo is the inventor of several patents in the field of oil re-refining and the circular economy. At the European level, he brings deep familiarity with GEIR’s work, having coordinated its Environment and Technology area and represented the industry before EU institutions, ECHA (European Chemicals Agency), and the JRC (Joint Research Centre) on key topics such as REACH, End of Waste regulations, and sustainability.
Comments
«It is a great honour to assume the presidency of GEIR at such a decisive phase for the future of sustainable industry in Europe», declared Francesco Gallo, newly elected President of GEIR. «I am proud to take over the baton from Miltos Bantis, whom I thank for his outstanding work. Our goal will be to continue demonstrating that oil re-refining is not only an ecological choice, but a strategic necessity for European resource security and competitiveness. We will work closely with EU institutions to ensure that the new Circular Economy Act fully leverages our sector’s contribution, promoting uniform rules, End of Waste protection, and technological excellence».
«We welcome this appointment with great pride», commented Marco Codognola, CEO of Itelyum. «The fact that the GEIR presidency returns to Itelyum and to Italy reflects the strength of our industrial model, which puts technology at the service of transforming industrial waste into valuable re-refined products, offering industrial customers comprehensive solutions for all their environmental and waste management needs. The production of quality re-refined base oils reflects the leadership position our country holds in Europe within the collection and re-refining chain, and our deep technical and regulatory experience will be a valuable asset in guiding the European industry as it works to reach climate neutrality and circularity goals. This also reinforces Itelyum’s central role on the international stage».