The conference, held on 6 November 2024, addressed crucial questions related to the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act, which aims to boost the market for recycled materials and foster greater integration within the EU recycling market. Among the core issues discussed were Green Public Procurement (GPP), taxation measures, the inclusion of recycled content, and the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in advancing circularity.
Pär Larshans, President of EuRIC’s Construction and Demolition Branch (ECDB), opened the event stating: “The construction sector generates 40% of all waste in the EU, yet new building materials contain little recycled content. With the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act, we have a unique opportunity to change this.”
Karolina D’Cunha, Deputy Head of Unit “From Waste to Resources” at DG Environment of the European Commission, outlined the latest efforts by the Commission to untap the potential of high-quality recycling and preparation for reuse, noting that 83% of construction and demolition waste (CDW) in the EU is potentially recyclable, with 16% eligible for reuse.
The first panel [Philip Van Nieuwenhuizen (EBC), Carol Barcella (EDA), Francesco Onori (Cavart SPA), Giorgio Bressi (EuRIC, ANPAR) and Karolina D’Cunha] discussed selective demolition and new recovery targets for CDW, with experts raising concerns about the costs of selective demolition and the challenges surrounding End-of-Waste (EoW) regulations for demolition materials. The panel also focused on ecodesign, particularly for insulation and multilayer materials, reducing contaminants and supporting SME-friendly legislation and tax incentives for reuse and recycling. It highlighted new technologies for recycling mixed waste into clean, recycled materials, with a special emphasis on innovations in glass recycling. Regarding the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act, participants suggested the inclusion of recycled content targets and sorting requirements to help the sector meet EU circularity goals.
The second panel [Marco Borroni (Concrete Europe), Myriam Tryjefaczka (Tarkett), Dirk Fincke (UEPG/Aggregates Europe), Silvia Ricci (ANCE) and Pär Larshans], explored the intersection of circularity and decarbonisation in construction. Experts emphasised the importance of rewarding circular projects and ensuring market transparency and developing well-designed and efficient EPR schemes. A call was made for an industrial plan that includes both policy measures and economic incentives from governments to implement circularity at scale.
The event’s discussions lay a strong foundation for shaping a decarbonised and more circular construction sector under the EU Circular Economy Act, taking into account the whole value chain.
