The building and infrastructure sectors show high potential for circularity given their significant resource and energy consumptions. Whereas several EU initiatives such as Renovation Wave, Level(s) and the New European Bauhaus address the construction sector, less attention has been given to sustainable and circular infrastructure. However, there is some evidence of a radical change in this sense: the InvestEU Fund shows attention to investments in sustainable infrastructure.
Nevertheless, different barriers still hinder circularity in the construction and infrastructure value chains within EU, such as the competitiveness and acceptance of recycled materials by end users. At the same time, many levers are increasingly promoting the implementation of resource efficiency and decarbonisation in both sectors: certification systems and standards; specific fiscal policies; green and circular procurement. Green Public Procurement (GPP) in particular, represents another step forward to fully realising circularity in both sectors. Presently voluntary, GPP will become mandatory in the future, which is already the case in Italy, for instance, in energy-related sectors, including construction.
ENEA, alchemia-nova, Innowo, the ECESP Leadership Group on Construction and Infrastructure invite you to the twin #EUCircularTalks on 28 and 30 September at 10:00 a.m. CEST. The events will highlight the primary market dynamics relative to materials for buildings and infrastructures and active and/or potential value chain collaborations in a circular and industrial symbiosis perspective.
- 28 September: Session 1 – Value chains collaboration in a circular/industrial symbiosis perspective will focus on connections along the Construction and Infrastructure value chain and with other value chains
- 30 September: Session 2 – Market of primary and secondary construction and infrastructure materials will demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of using secondary materials (in substitution of primary ones) in the market.
Programme
SESSION 1: 28 September, 10:00 – 12:30
Moderator: Johannes Kisser, alchemia-nova
Opening remarks
- Laura Cutaia, ENEA
- Baiba Miltoviča, President of the Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society section at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Reuse and recycling of steel by-products in construction: State of art and future perspectives
- Aurelio Braconi, European Steel Association (Eurofer)
Raw material substitution rate in concrete/cement production and waste derived fuels utilization rate
- Nikos NIKOLAKAKOS, Cembureau
Dry construction system for the refurbishment of built environment: barriers and opportunities in the disposal of materials and components of plasterboard systems
- Alessia Iscaro, GYPROC – Saint Gobain
Improvement scenarios in recycling of demolition waste through selective demolition
- Ivan Poroli, Italian National Association for Demolition and Circular Economy for Construction (NADECO)
- Stefano Panseri, European Demolition Association (EDA)
C.E. in the C&I sectors in Italy. The ICESP experience
- Margherita Galli, FEDERBETON / C&D Sub-group – Working Group 4 – Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ICESP)
Policies and fiscal policies to improve circularity in the C&I sectors: the French National Roadmap for CE
- Marline Weber, Institut National de l’Économie Circulaire
A good practice of recovery, reuse and enhancement of deconstruction waste
- Andrea Kessler, Materialnomaden
Poll and open discussion
Wrap up by moderator
SESSION 2: 30 September, 10:00 – 12:30
Moderator: Hubert Bukowski, Innowo
Opening remarks
- Laura Cutaia, ENEA
- Aurel Laurenţiu Plosceanu, President of the Employment, Social Affairs, and Citizenship section at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Influence of C&D waste management costs on the competitiveness of recycled materials
- Philippe Moseley, Policy Officer, Sustainable Industrial Policy and Construction, DG GROW, European Commission
Acceptance of recycled materials
- Geert Cuperus, Fédération Internationale du Recyclage
Competitiveness of secondary materials: design phase and end of life as parts of the same problem/solution
- Eugenio Quintieri, European Builders Confederation (EBC)
Circular procurement as an enabling tool for secondary material markets
- Kaitlyn Dietz, ICLEI
Certification systems and standards
- Gaetano Bertino, alchemia-nova
Good practices
- Circular economy and Cradle to Cradle in construction – Michael Moradiellos del Molino, Drees & Sommer
- New European Bauhaus case – Henriette Thuen, Confederation of Danish Industries
Poll and open discussion
Closing remarks
- Josefina Lindblom, Policy Officer, Sustainable Buildings, DG ENVI, European Commission
Wrap up by moderator
