Concrete Perspectives September 2020
CONCRETE NEWS
MPA sets out UK concrete and cement net zero roadmap
The UK concrete and cement industry has launched a roadmap to become net negative by 2050. The roadmap is major milestone in the industry’s decarbonising journey, building on the 53% reduction in absolute carbon dioxide emissions that has been achieved since 1990.
Launching the ambitious roadmap, UK Concrete, part of the Mineral Products Association (MPA), has identified that net zero can be met through decarbonised electricity and transport networks, fuel switching, greater use of low-carbon cements and concretes as well as Carbon Capture, Use or Storage (CCUS) technology for cement manufacture.
The ‘Roadmap to beyond net zero’ calculates the potential of each technology and the carbon savings which can be achieved. CCUS technology is vital to delivering net zero manufacturing and according to the roadmap will deliver 61 per cent of the required carbon savings.
(Source: MPA)
You can find the UK Concrete and Cement Industry Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero here.
GCCA launches ‘Concrete in Life’ competition
The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has recently launched its 2nd ‘Concrete in Life’ global photography competition. The contest is open to professional and amateur photographers via social media, with aim to showcase the vital role the concrete plays in the world and to encourage people to look at how concrete is being used in the world around them. The deadline for entries is 30 November, 2020.
The competition has three categories:
- Urban design and use (#UrbanConcrete) – the city landscapes and buildings around us;
- Practical concrete (#PracticalConcrete) – infrastructure in cities and rural areas, above and below ground;
- Small scale concrete (#SmallScaleConcrete) – from provision of a water tank for a village or an urban sculpture, to a new kitchen worktop, all images that showcase concrete as an intrinsic part of people’s lives.
Participants can enter by posting a picture that they have taken on Instagram or Twitter using #ConcreteinLife, whilst also using the hashtag for the category they would like to enter. They should also tag the GCCA – @the.gcca on Instagram or @theGCCA on Twitter.
One professional and one amateur winner will be chosen by a panel of industry and design experts from each category, as well as one overall winner for the the overall “Best Concrete in Life” Photo of the Year prize. The overall winner will receive a US$10 000 prize, with each of the remaining amateur and professional winners receiving a US$2500 prize.
ECOS conference on Circularity in Construction
The event organized by the European Environmental Citizens’ Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS) gave an opportunity to explore how the construction sector can deliver the ambition of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan, bringing together a wide range of industry and environmental stakeholders to discuss current challenges and identify policies, laws and standards that can transform the construction sector from an environmental problem to part of the solution.
What was discussed?
- Current strategic commitments for a sustainable built environment;
- Future policy framework for a sustainable built environment and key sectoral changes needed to meet EU and global climate commitments;
- The Construction Products Regulation review process and how it can foster greater circularity;
- Regulatory requirements and standardisation needs crucial in the context of the EU sustainable product policy framework.
Read the summary of the discussion here.
BIBM NEWS
Public consultation and feedback
Sustainable products initiative
BIBM will provide input to the European Commission’s Sustainable products initiative. This proposal will revise the Ecodesign Directive and suggest additional legislative measures as appropriate, aiming to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable.
Consumers, the environment and the climate will benefit from products that are more durable, reusable, repairable, recyclable, and energy-efficient. The initiative will also address the presence of harmful chemicals in products such as: electronics & ICT equipment, textiles, furniture, steel, cement & chemicals.
Feedback deadline: 2 November 2020 (update: 16 November 2020)
Industrial pollution – European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (updated rules)
BIBM will provide feedback on the European Commission proposal for a regulation on the EU rules on addressing pollution from large industrial installations. The register contains key data on pollutants emitted by industrial facilities in Europe.
This initiative aims to:
- Improve public access to environmental information;
- Support the revision of closely related legislation on industrial emissions;
- Help achieve the European Green Deal goals on zero pollution, climate neutrality, biodiversity and a cleaner, more circular economy.
Feedback deadline: 26 October 2020
Environmental performance of products & businesses – substantiating claims
BIBM provided feedback and will respond to public consultation to the European Commission’s initiative: Environmental performance of products & businesses – substantiating claims. This initiative will require companies to substantiate claims they make about the environmental footprint of their products/services by using standard methods for quantifying them. The aim is to make the claims reliable, comparable and verifiable across the EU – reducing ‘greenwashing’ (companies giving a false impression of their environmental impact). This should help commercial buyers and investors make more sustainable decisions and increase consumer confidence in green labels and information.
Public consultation deadline: 3 December 2020
EU Action Plan Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil
BIBM will provide feedback on the EC’s Communication: EU Action Plan Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil.
To secure clean air, water and soil, healthy ecosystems and a healthy living environment for Europeans, the EU needs to better prevent, remedy, monitor and report on pollution, mainstream the zero pollution ambition into all its policy developments and decouple economic growth from the increase of pollution, in line with United Nations driven efforts.
Feedback deadline: 29 October 2020
BIBM – EGGA meeting
The representatives of BIBM and EGGA (European General Galvanizers Association) met virtually on 30 September for an open dialogue and to discuss possible actions in collaboration.
During the meeting, Murray Cook, Executive Director of EGGA, presented their work on galvanized rebar. While Valerio Mazzone (Market Development Executive, EGGA) discussed the grounds for investigating potential for increased use of hot‐dip galvanized reinforcement in precast products and presented results from initial investigations. It has been followed by the discussion of EGGA’s initial investigations and BIBM’s information needs and questions.
EGGA is the federation of the national galvanizers associations within Europe. The federation monitors and responds to issues affecting the general galvanizing industry in Europe, in particular environmental, technical and regulatory matters. EGGA also provides a platform for coordination of marketing and other initiatives for the industry. It represents about 600 general galvanizing plants (mostly SMEs) employing an estimated 40,000 people in Europe.
BIBM Congress postponed to November 14 – 16, 2021
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 re-schedule the event to November 14 – 16, 2021.
You can find more information on the BIBM Congress website here.
Registrations for both, stands and tickets, can be made as usual. We are already looking forward to welcoming you in Copenhagen at the end of 2021 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 materials.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES/UPDATES:
- BIBM Congress is rescheduled to November 14 – 16, 2021
- Congress Delegate online registration and price list here
- Download the final program here
- The BIBM Congress 2021’ official slogan: “The Future of European Construction – Precast Excellence in Nordic Countries”
- LinkedIn and Twitter BIBM Congress hashtag: #BIBMCongress2021 (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
- Abstract submission: the Speakers are invited to send 1 to 2 pages summary of their presentation to mh@bibm.eu
- The final VEEP workshop in the framework of the BIBM Congress has been cancelled – more information forthcoming
BIBM AGENDA
| OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER |
| 1: BIBM Communication Commission Confcall | 9: BIBM Communication Commission Confcall | 3: ECP Board |
| 6-7: GCCA Annual meeting Confcall | 10: CEN/TC 229 WG5 Product category rules Confcall | 10: NEPSI Council Brussels |
| 13: BIBM Environment Commission Confcall | 12: ECP TF Fire and Eurocodes Confcall | |
| 15: The Concrete Initiative Confcall | 16: BIBM General Assembly Confcall | |
| 16: BIBM Wastewater Engineering group Confcall | 19-20: CEN/TC 250 Plenary Confcall | |
| 19: BIBM AhG EC2 Confcall | 24: CEN/TC 3250 WG3 Products Confcall | |
| 19: ECP TF Health, Environment and Hygiene Confcall | 26: CEN/TC 350 Plenary Confcall | |
| 21: Industry4Europe Internal exchange with DG GROW and EESC Confcall | 30: CEN/TC 229 WG4 Horizontal issues Confcall | |
| 29: Construction 2050 Meeting Confcall | ||
| 30: BIBM Directors’ meeting Confcall |
WEBINARS / ONLINE EVENTS
| DATE | NAME | INFORMATION |
| 13 October | CEMBUREAU | Cementing Europe’s Future – Building the Green Deal Registration |
| 22 October | Mineral Products Association | Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero Registration |
| 26 October | European Parliament | Official launch event of the Intergroup: “Competitive European Industry: long term and sustainable investment” |
| 27 October | Euractiv | Sustainable Finance: Opportunity or threat for the manufacturing industry? Registration |
| 29 October | FSEU | European Fire Safety Community Digital Summit “Envisaging a Fire Safety Rating Scheme” Registration – Registration to the FSEU Community |
| 30 October | LowUP | Towards zero energy buildings in Europe: LowUP Final Conference Registration |
| 2-6 November | British Precast | Precast Week 2020 Registration |
| 10 November | Euractiv | The 2030 Climate Target Plan: What will it take to reach the target? Registration |
| 2 December | Construction 2050 | Public event |
BIBM PARTNERS NEWS
Final Conference of SeRaMCo – 20 January 2021
The SeRaMCo project is pleased to invite you to their final web conference under the name “Precast Concrete in the Circular Economy” (20 Januay 2021) to learn about SeRaMCo’s research results regarding the recycling of construction and demolition waste and its incorporation in innovative concrete mixtures.
The focus of the final SeRaMCo conference will be on the results of the project’s 3-year top-notch research, together with the latest information regarding building with concrete made from recycled aggregates and sands. To this end, participants will be introduced to innovative concrete precast products. Furthermore, external high-level speakers and experts in the field from research, business and policy-making have been confirmed who will be giving interesting insights into the topic.
The online conference addresses members of public authorities and public service providers as potential end-users for the products, as well as companies in the precast production and recycling industry, architects, designers and experts of universities and the general public interested in the topic. SeRaMCo particularly encourages the members of the Chambers of Commerce at the national and regional levels as well as members of the European Commission to join this unique event.
You can register for the event here.
Follow SeRaMCo on Twitter (@SeRaMCoNWE) for more news!
VEEP 9th General Assembly
The 9th General Assembly of VEEP was held virtually on 24 September. Work status has been presented by Veep researchers, followed by the discussion of results and next activities.
It has been agreed that Jaime Moreno (TEC) will present the VEEP project at the CEN TC/154 meeting in 20-21 October and Alessio Rimoldi (BIBM) will present the project at the CEN TC/229 in 30 November.
During the meeting partners have been informed that the BIBM event – expected in November 2020 has been postponed after the project end (November 2021).
Preliminary video tour prepared by STRU was also presented. It’s finalization will be provided in the next weeks.
The main objective of VEEP is to develop and demonstrate a series of technological solutions for the massive retrofitting of the built environment, aiming at cost – effectively reducing building energy consumption. It leads to higher resource efficiency in 2 novel multilayer Precast Concrete Elements (PCEs) through the combination of concrete and superinsulation material manufactured by using, at least, 75% (by weight) of CDW recycled materials, as raw materials.
The next GA will be organized in Hoorn in the middle of March, allowing to visit the HAS and Mock ups installation. The GA will be organized digitally if the COVID-19 situation will still inhibit travelling.
CPE Discussion paper – Future of standardisation within the CPR
On September 7, Construction Products Europe (CPE) together with FIEC, EBC and SBS, published a joint discussion paper on the role of standardisation in the current Construction Products Regulation (CPR), thereby contributing to the ongoing debate on the potential legislative revision.
The paper was published on the same day as the CPR revision Technical Stakeholders’ Conference organised by the Commission. A well-functioning European regulatory framework for construction products integrated within the standardisation system will not only respond to industry needs but will serve society at large. It will enable the European Union to achieve the completion of the digital internal market, the economic post-COVID-19 recovery, EU Green Deal strategic plans and Circular Economy goals.
You can find the full discussion paper here.
LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
State of the Union 2020
In her State of the Union address on 16 September 2020, the EC President Ursula von der Leyen presented her vision for a Europe that emerges stronger from the pandemic and leads the way towards a new vitality. With NextGenerationEU, Europe has a once in a lifetime opportunity to make change happen by design. To enable Europe to become green, digital and more resilient, the European Commission will focus, among others, on raising the EU ambitions and reinforcing the building blocks of the European Green Deal and leading the digital transformation, particularly on data, technology and infrastructure.
In her letter of Intent to the EP President David Maria Sassoli and to Chancellor Angela Merkel (Germany Council Presidency), von der Leyen outlines the main elements guiding the preparation of the Commission Work Programme for the following year. The Commission will focus on the green and digital transitions, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and building resilient economies and industries, as well as revitalising the role of the Union as a global actor. Of particular interest, the Commission is expected to propose a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and to revise the EU emission trading system along with a number of climate and energy regulations, to meet the target of reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The Commission will also propose legislation on data, a digital levy, European e-identity and will set 2030 digital targets. It will also work on the establishment of an EU Green Bond Standard.
EU to update industrial strategy in 2021
The Commission announced its intention to update the Industrial Strategy to match increased ambition in green and digital spheres by the first half of 2021. President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the Commission will “take stock of where we are with industrial alliances for key technologies and with efforts to improve our resilience such as on raw materials”. During her recent State of the Union address on 16 September, von der Leyen suggested that the Strategy will need to be updated to account for recent acceleration in the green and digital transformation while emphasising the need for EU industry to adapt more quickly to the changing nature of the global competitive landscape.
The Commission previously presented a new Industrial Strategy in March 2020, which outlined a path for a green and digital transformation in EU industry, with particular focus on supporting industry towards climate-neutrality, incorporating industry within the circular economy and adapting to a digital single market.
OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS
Statoil office complex, Harstad, Norway
This 11,000-m2 office building serves as a workplace for 600 office workers, but it’s also a shopping center. The precast concrete framework has an impressive glass facade on top of it, and the L-shaped building is beautifully positioned. The building raises the visual profile of the town. Tekla Structures BIM software helped coordinate design, manufacturing, shiploads, and site operations.
The building is highly cost effective and has a calculated energy use of just 103 kWh/m2/yr. This is achieved through several methods, including using heat from the remote centralised heat source, 85% energy recycling and a well insulated and airtight skin. The triple-glazed façade panels have an u-value of 0.6 and the air tightness of the construction aids reaching the very low energy consumption figures for the building.
Foundation engineer: Norconsult
Structural engineer: Concretus Designers
Architect: SJ Arkitekter
Facade engineer: Staticus
Precast supplier: Markuciai