Implementing EU legislation: How to increase circularity in the construction sector

The construction sector in the EU generates the largest volumes of waste and represents around 12% of EU GHG emissions at the same time. Nonetheless, it lags behind in the development of a circular economy, which in some Member States is struggling to take off due to the difficulty for recycled aggregates to find a market. In this context, European legislation can be a key driver for increasing circualrtiy in the European construction sector. The revision of the EU Construction Products Regulation entailed new approaches on environmental requirements construction products that stil need to be defined. Green Public procurement provisions can be a very useful leverage for increasing recycling of constrction and demolition waste (C&D waste). Can specific targets for recycling of C&D waste under the Waste Framework Directive also increase circularity of materilas in the EU? This seminar will look into different legislative tools for driving circularity in the construction sector, involving the whole value chain.

Session Chair

Pär Larshans, President of EuRIC’s Construction & Demolition Branch (ECDB)

Programme

14.00 Opening & welcoming
Pär Larshans, President of EuRIC’s Construction & Demolition Branch (ECDB)

14.05-14.20 Keynote speech
Mattia Pellegrini, Head of Unit, From Waste to Resources, European Commission (DG ENV.B.3)

14.20-15.20 Panel discussion I
Selective demolition and the new recovery targets for the different C&D waste streams

Moderated by:
Julia Ettinger, Secretary General, EuRIC

Participants:
Mattia Pellegrini, Head of Unit, From Waste to Resources, European Commission (DG ENV.B.3)
Philip Van Nieuwenhuizen, President of the European Builders Association
Carol Barcella, European Demolition Association
Francesco Onori, CEO Cavart SpA
Giorgio Bressi, Technical Director, ANPAR and Vice-President of EuRIC’s Construction & Demolition Branch (ECDB)

15.20-16.20 Panel discussion II
EU tools to increase circularity in the construction sector

Moderated by:
Antoine Stilo, EU Policy Advisor, EuRIC

Participants:
Marco Borroni, President, Concrete Europe
Dirk Fincke, Secretary General UEPG/Aggregates Europe
Silvia Ricci, Vice-President, ANCE
Pär Larshans, President of EuRIC’s Construction & Demolition Branch (ECDB), Chief Sustainability Officer at RagnSells

16.20 Conclusions by the Session Chair