Concrete Perspectives April 2020
CONCRETE NEWS
European Recovery Fund – Joint declaration
On April 30, Construction Products Europe together with FIEC and EBC launched a joint declaration requesting the European recovery fund for COVID-19. In the statement, the sector stressed that the European Recovery Fund should include construction as one of the key industrial ecosystems with an amount of at least 320B EUR of dedicated budget. This amount aims not only at compensating the losses in private and public spending in order to bring them back to the pre-crisis levels, but also at triggering the multiplier effect that construction is having on the whole economy.
Read the full joint declaration here.
Launch of DigiPLACE video
The DigiPLACE promotional video has been released on the project’s official YouTube channel as integral part of the project communication strategy.
The aim of the video is to introduce the DigiPLACE project to policy makers, industry and the general public as an EU-wide collaboration of 19 partners from 11 countries. The consortium represents the construction industry, academia and national governments united in a single mission: to build the foundation for a digital collaborative future for the European construction industry.
DigiPLACE is an EU-funded project with a budget of €1 million aiming at creating a roadmap for a Digital Platform for Construction in Europe. The first DigiPLACE online information session was held on April 29. Find out more information here.
“Shaping the Future of Construction Products” Project
The World Economic Forum (WEF) established a three-year project on “Shaping the Future of Construction Products”. In the WEF’s report it is mentioned that prefabrication would increase construction efficiency, enable better sequencing in the construction process and reduce weather-related holdups; by such means, it becomes possible to reduce a project’s delivery times and construction costs relative to traditional construction methods, and also to create safer working environments. Precast concrete can be applied in a wide variety of project types, ranging from residential housing to large-scale industrial plants. The various systems can be distinguished by their degree of prefabrication: at the simpler end are the mostly two-dimensional building components, such as walls, ceilings or truss elements; then there are modular structures, comprising larger volumetric elements like entire rooms or storeys; and, finally, there are entirely prefabricated assets. The degree of prefabrication is based not just on these physical dimensions, but on a further factor as well: the integration and complexity of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Check out the project video here.
BIBM NEWS
Public consultation and feedback
Consultation on the renewed sustainable finance strategy
The aim of this public consultation is to collect the views and opinions of interested parties in order to inform the Commissions renewed strategy on sustainable finance.
Building on the 2018 Action Plan on financing sustainable growth, the renewed sustainable finance strategy will provide a roadmap with new actions to increase private investment in sustainable projects and activities to support the different actions set out in the European Green Deal and to manage and integrate climate and environmental risks into our financial system. The initiative will also provide additional enabling frameworks for the European Green Deal Investment Plan.
Consultation – April 8 – extended to July 15, 2020
2030 Climate Target Plan
BIBM is responding to the public consultation on the Climate 2030 target action plan. The EU aims to become climate-neutral (net zero greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050. To achieve this, it will propose a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 50% to 55% for 2030 from 1990 levels, rather than at least 40% currently, including an amendment to the recently proposed European Climate Law. The initiative will also assess the economic, social and environmental impacts and possible policy measures.
Public consultation – feedback period: March 31 – June 23, 2020
European Climate Pact
BIBM is responding to the public consultation on the future European Climate Pact. The European Commission’s European Green Deal is the new growth strategy for an EU economy that is sustainable, cleaner, safer and healthier. The engagement of the public is critical to instil a new climate culture, awareness and motivation for climate action, bringing together citizens, industry, civil society and authorities at all levels. To achieve this, the Commission will consult the public and interested stakeholders in order to launch a “Climate Pact” in the 3rd quarter of 2020.
Feedback period: March 4 – extended to June 17, 2020
BIBM Congress – November 15-17, 2020
Due to the recent COVID-19 developments and in order to protect the health of our participants, exhibitors and speakers, BIBM, host of this years congress, and BCF, the organizer, have decided to reschedule #BIBMCongress2020 to November 15 – 17, 2020.
Registrations for both, stands and tickets, can be made as usual. We are already looking forward to welcome you in Copenhagen at the end of this year and to enjoy networking and future driven lessons.
We confide in your help to raise awareness within your clients and stakeholders, through organising “national” visits, providing possible exhibitors and sharing the available promotional material.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES/UPDATES:
- BIBM Congress is rescheduled to November 15-17, 2020
- Congress Delegate online registration and price list here
- Download the final program here
- The BIBM Congress 2020’ official slogan: “The Future of European Construction – Precast Excellence in Nordic Countries”
- LinkedIn and Twitter BIBM Congress hashtag: #BIBMCongress2020 (please follow the hashtag to keep up with related images and posts)
- Learn more about the Speakers and Exhibitors on the Building Congress Forum LinkedIn page here.
- VEEP Final Conference at BIBM Congress (BIBM delegates can choose the option of Workshop in the registration process; the fee for non-delegates is 120 €). Register and find the final agenda here. (Program->VEEP Workshop)
BIBM MAY – JUNE 2020 AGENDA
| MAY | JUNE |
| 7: BIBM General Assembly Confcall | 4: CEN/TC 350 WG 3 Product level Confcall |
| 13: BIBM CC WG Green Book Confcall | 9: CPE WG on CPR Confcall |
| 14/15: CEN/TC 250 Eurocodes Confcall | 15: BIBM Environment Commission Confcall |
| 18: ECP TF HEH Confcall | 16: BIBM Technical Commission Confcall |
| 19: CPE Sustainability WG Confcall | 18: BIBM AhG Eurocode 2 Confcall |
| 26: BIBM Board Confcall | 18: CPE General Assembly Brussels (tbc) |
| 19: ECP TF Fire and Eurocodes Confcall | |
| 22: ECP Board and General Assembly Brussels (tbc) | |
| 26: CEN/TC 229 EP Common Rules Confcall | |
| 30: CEN/TC 229 WG5 Product Category Rules Confcall |
BIBM PARTNERS NEWS
The Concrete Initiative (TCI) coalition (BIBM, CEMBUREAU, ECP, ERMCO and UEPG) has recently published a position paper on “New Circular Economy Action Plan and the ambitious vision of the European Green Deal”.
TCI welcomes the New Circular Economy Action Plan and the ambitious vision of the European Green Deal. The Coalition is pleased to see that the Action Plan contains coherent, long-term measures to enhance the life span of construction works (through durability, maintenance, repair and reuse) and to increase the recycling and reuse of construction waste. The whole concrete value chain is fully committed to achieving a circular economy in construction.
The Coalition showed eagerness to get involved in the future work and provide the concrete experience in the field for the full implementation of the new Circular Economy Action Plan.
Read our latest position paper on the Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan here.
Seramco project extended
The SeRaMCo project will be extended until 15 March 2021. SeRaMCo’s expected outputs are cement and concrete precast products (CPPs) from up to 100% recycled aggregates, comparable to conventional products both in terms of costs and quality, and ready for commercialization in North-Western Europe (NWE) countries.
SeRaMCo is testing its end-products in three pilot areas, namely City of Seraing (Belgium), City of Saarlouis (Germany) and Region of Moseille (France). Following the testing phase, previously developed business models, supporting the supply chain of the new market niche and establishing ecosystem with stakeholders active in the field, will be put in place.
Check out the latest series of 6 documentaries which highlight the most innovative aspects of the SeRaMCo project here.
2nd International Conference on Circularity in the Built Environment (CiBEn)
The 2nd international conference on Circularity in the Built Environment (CiBEn) aims at becoming a major point of contact between researchers, engineers and practitioners in the area of green and sustainable construction.
Eight main topics embracing all different aspects related to the theme of circularity in the built environment and sustainable construction materials will be dealt with:
- CDW Recycling Technologies
- Sustainable Construction Materials
- Digitalization & Circularity
- Circular Design
- Circular Management
- Social Circular Economy
- Standards, Policy Legislation
- Circular Design from Product to Cities
Join VEEP team from 22 to 24 September 2020 in Delft (the Netherlands) and register here.
LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Commission will use all the instruments at its disposal to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic, in particular:
– To ensure the necessary supplies to our health systems by preserving the integrity of the Single Market and of production and distribution of value chains;
– To support people so that income and jobs are not affected disproportionally and to avoid permanent effect of this crisis;
– To support firms and ensure that the liquidity of our financial sector can continue to support the economy;
– And to allow Member States to act decisively in a coordinated way, through using the full flexibility of our State Aid and Stability and Growth Pact Frameworks.
Under this new Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, the Commission proposes to direct 37 billion EUR under Cohesion policy to the fight against the Coronavirus crisis. The Commission calls upon the European Parliament and the Council to swiftly approve this proposal, so that it can be adopted within the next two weeks.
Renovation Wave to be presented in September
Following the High-Level Videoconference of Energy Ministers, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson pledged in a statement to present the ‘Renovation Wave’ initiative in September 2020. The major goal is to stimulate building renovation in Europe with concrete action on several fronts: support the economy, create jobs, provide healthier and more efficient houses, cut energy bills and contribute to the climate goals. As Simson stated: “I see homes, hospitals, schools and SMEs as the first target areas for investment”. The renovation wave could be a key element of any post-COVID recovery plan because of its benefits for stimulating economic activity.
BPIE – The Buildings Performance Institute Europe, has recently released its “An Action Plan for the renovation wave: collectively achieving sustainable buildings in Europe”. The publication sets forth a strategy to deliver climate-neutrality for Europe’s buildings by 2050 while supporting economic recovery post Covid-19.
Final report on EU taxonomy
The Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (TEG) published its final report on EU taxonomy. The report contains recommendations relating to the overarching design of the EU Taxonomy, as well as extensive implementation guidance on how companies and financial institutions can use and disclose against the taxonomy. The report is supplemented by a technical annex containing updated technical screening criteria for 70 climate change mitigation and 68 climate change adaptation activities, including criteria for do no significant harm to other environmental objectives. On April 15 the Council adopted by written procedure its position at first reading with respect to the Taxonomy regulation.
The TEG’s recommendations are designed to support the European Commission in the development of the delegated act on climate change mitigation and adaptation under the Taxonomy Regulation. The taxonomy for mitigation and adaptation activites should be established by the end of 2020, in order to ensure its full application by end of 2021. Further development of the EU Taxonomy will take place via a new Platform on Sustainable Finance, which is expected to be operating by autumn 2020.
EU reacts to COP26 postponement
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has recently announced the postponement of the next international climate summit in Glasgow (COP26) until 2021. The EU Commission vice-president and Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans has acknowledged in a statement that global diplomatic activity is currently slowed down by the coronavirus crisis and he understands the decision to postpone the event. Nevertheless, the European Commission will not slow down their work domestically or internationally to prepare for an ambitious COP26, when it takes place. The legislative work that the Commission is doing to present by September 2020 is an impact assessed plan to raise the EU’s 2030 ambitions and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50-55% compared to 1990 levels. The same goes for the work necessary to submit an enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC in line with the EC’s commitment under the Paris Agreement.
OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS
V&A Dundee · Scotland’s first design museum (2018)
Exemplifying the possibilities of precast façades and assemblies, the new V&A Dundee in Scotland by Kengo Kuma Architects was made to evoke a Scottish cliff face. The project’s façade is made of long panels of precast concrete formed with a mix of stone, cement and reinforcement mesh. The exterior walls include 2,500 cast stone panels hung on gently sloped walls curving vertically and horizontally. Techrete designed, manufactured and installed the panels.