Concrete Perspectives March – April 2021


CONCRETE NEWS


British Precast to merge with MPA

© British Precast

The UK’s concrete producers will be represented for the first time in one trade association to help accelerate the industry’s journey towards beyond net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

British Precast, the trade body of the country’s precast concrete producers, will merge with the Mineral Products Association (MPA) from 1 January 2022.

The combined association will encompass the production of ready-mixed concrete and the manufacture of precast concrete products, from building blocks and paving slabs to structural flooring, drainage systems, railway sleepers and other essential construction components. The merger will enable a more integrated approach as the UK concrete and cement industry implements its ambitious ‘Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero’ responding to the urgent challenges of climate change and the need for more sustainable construction.

(Source: British Precast)


EU-OSHA healthy workplace campaign 2020-2022

© EU-OSHA

The 2020-2022 campaign, called ‘Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Road’, focuses on the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs continue to be one of the most prevalent type of work-related health problem in Europe. This year, CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association, has been accepted as an Official Partner of the campaign. The campaign takes a comprehensive view of the causes of this persistent problem. It aims to disseminate high-quality information on the subject, encourages an integrated approach to managing the problem, and offers practical tools and solutions that can help at workplace level. 

The Healthy Workplaces Campaigns are the EU-OSHA flagship awareness-raising activity. Find out more about EU-OSHA campaigns and free toolkits here.


European Construction Sector Observatory (ECSO) – new factsheets

© European Commission

 The European Construction Sector Observatory (ECSO) regularly analyses and carries out comparative assessments on the construction sector in all 27 EU countries and the UK, to provide policymakers and stakeholders with up-to-date information on market conditions and policy developments.

Check out the updated country and policy factsheets. Each factsheet provides an analysis of key figures of the construction sector, macro-economic indicators, economic drivers, issues and barriers, innovation, the national/regional policy and regulatory framework, and the current status and national strategy to meet Construction 2020 objectives.

Check the recent virtual presentation of ECSO with an introduction of Fulvia Raffaelli, Head of Unit ‘Construction’ at European Commission – DG GROW here.


BIBM NEWS


The Little Green Book of Concrete 2021 – official launch    

© BIBM “The Little Green Book of Concrete” 2021

The new 2021 digital edition of ‘The Little Green Book of Concrete’ was officially launched on the 13th of April during the BIBM Board web-meeting. This year’s edition is part of a European precast sector collaboration, headed by BIBM, bringing together sustainability professionals from multiple European countries to update the little books messages for a new decade. The original edition of the book was published by the British Precast Concrete Federation (BPCF) in 2008.

The Little Green Book outlines not only the sustainable advantages of precast concrete, but also the engagement of the industry to provide more sustainable, circular and decarbonized solutions for the built environment.

Read the press release here.

 Click here to download the digital edition of the book.


Public consultation and feedback

Forests – new EU strategy

BIBM responded to the public consultation on a new EU Forest strategy. Under the European Green Deal, the Commission has announced a new EU forest strategy that will focus on EU forest protection, restoration & sustainable management.

Commission adoption: First quarter 2021

Sustainable Products Initiative

This initiative, which will revise the Ecodesign Directive and propose additional legislative measures as appropriate, aims to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable. The initiative will also address the presence of harmful chemicals in products such as: electronics & ICT equipment, textiles, furniture, steel, cement & chemicals.

Public consultation deadline: 9 June 2021

Energy efficiency – Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

BIBM provided feedback and will respond to the public consultation on the EC’s revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

In 2020, the Commission presented its ‘Renovation Wave’ strategy to boost energy renovation of buildings in the EU. This strategy contains an action plan with: (i) regulatory, financing and enabling measures; and (ii) the goal of at least doubling the annual energy renovation rate of buildings by 2030.

This goal requires a revision of the relevant EU legal act, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The revision will focus on provisions that are central to boosting building renovation.

Public consultation deadline: 22 June 2021

Water pollution – EU rules on urban wastewater treatment (update)

Making sure that urban wastewater is clean and safe is vital for protecting public health and the environment. This key part of EU water policy is covered by the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD).

This initiative will revise the Directive after a recent evaluation of it identified certain shortcomings and new societal needs that must be addressed.

Public consultation deadline: 21 July 2021


BIBM Congress 2021, 14 – 16 November

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 prize list here
  • Download the 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 Ms. Magdalena Herbik (mh@bibm.eu)

BIBM AGENDA


MAYJUNEJULY
4: CEN/TC 350
SC 1 – Circular Economy
Confcall
BIBM
General Assembly
Confcall
1: CEN/TC 104
Plenary Meeting
Confcall
6: VEEP
Final review meeting
Confcall
7: BIBM
Technical Commission
Confcall
1: CEN and CENELEC
Meeting
Brussels
7: CEN/TC 229
WG 5 – Product Category Rules
Confcall
16: CEN/TC 350
WG 3 – Product level
Confcall
11: The Concrete Initiative
Confcall
17: GCCA
Partnership Council
Confcall
19: C2050 Alliance
Internal confcall
18: CPE
General Assembly
Confcall
27: ECP
TF Health Environment and Hygiene
Confcall
22: ECP
Board and General Assembly
Confcall
24: BIBM
Communication Commission
Confcall
29: CEN/TC 229
WG 1 – Structural products
Confcall
30: CEN/TC 104
SC 1 – Specification, performance, production and conformity
Confcall

WEBINARS / ONLINE EVENTS


DateOrganiserInformation
3 MaySMARTINCSOpen Research Workshop on self-healing concrete Registration
4 MayThe Concrete CentreConcrete, BIM and the Golden Thread Seminar Registration
5 MayLund UniversityCircular Economy: Sustainable Materials Management Q&A Registration
10 MayThe Concrete CentreSpecifying Low Carbon Concrete Registration
11 MayEuropean Circular Economy Stakeholder PlatformTowards a circular European infrastructure Registration
11 MayMultiple Benefits of Energy EfficiencyThe Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency – Final Conference Registration
18 MayThe Concrete CentreLearning from Life Cycle Analysis – case studies Registration
18 MayCEMBUREAUA Circular & Carbon Neutral Europe: The Role of Co-processing Registration
21 MaySLICEI IntergroupFinancing the social housing sector: which models? Registration
27 MayDigiPLACEDigiPLACE Closing Conference – The future building blocks – How digital platforms will help deliver the EU Green Deal goals Registration
9 JuneConcrete FuturesConcrete Innovation for Renewable Energy – online lecture Registration

BIBM PARTNERS NEWS


Concrete Dialogue 2021

From top left: Moderator Jacki Davis, Ciarán Cuffe MEP, Josefina Lindblom (DG Environment), Finn Passov (Circle House project), Thomas Kreitmaye (City of Vienna) and Sorcha Edwards (Housing Europe)

 For the 2021 edition, the Concrete Dialogue (organised by the Concrete Initaitive and hosted by MEP Sandro Gozi) highlighted real projects that have contributed not only to the environment but have also benefited society and the economy.

The first was an Austrian project, presented by Green buildings expert for Vienna Thomas Kreitmayer, that demonstrated how affordable housing can be powered by renewable energy, including reusing energy spent on heating buildings. The second was the Danish ’Circle House’ project, presented by project partner Finn Passov, which aimed to “demonstrate that 90 percent of the building materials could be reused without loss of value”.

The lively webinar debate was also a chance to listen to a panel of leading EU politicians and experts, and housing association representatives, to hear their views on the policies needed in the years ahead.

Please see here the highlights video from the Concrete Dialogue and read the article in The Parliament Magazine.


VEEP Final Webinar and Replication Workshop

After over four years, VEEP Project (funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No: 723582) has successfully ended on 31 March 2021. Now it is time for the Project Consortium, coordinated by RINA and made up of 15 partners from 7 EU countries, to transfer their knowledge to the market. During the Final Webinar, co-organised by BIBM and EU Build Up Team, three different project on circular economy for buildings has been presented: VEEP, SeRaMCO and ICEBERG.

The replication workshop (a follow up event) assessed the possibility to reproduce the VEEP results (precast concrete elements with recycled aggregates and aerogel insulation) in different world markets. During the workshop, Alessio Rimoldi (BIBM) discussed construction and demolition waste use and situation in Europe.

The recording of the final webinar is available here.

Check out the promo videos here.


The Construction 2050 Alliance launches its website and social media

By following the newly created communication channels, you will be able to keep track of the developments the Construction 2050 Alliance will lead  according to its 2021-2022 Work -programme, which features 6 priority areas:

  • Construction: the solution to Europe’s recovery after COVID-19;
  • The contribution of the built environment to the EU Green Deal;
  • The human factor in construction: safety, skills and sector’s image;
  • Relaunching the Construction 2020 Strategy;
  • EU Data Strategy: a construction approach;
  • Developing a communication strategy for the Alliance.

 Stay tuned to cooperate more with us for a sustainable built environment!

Twitter: @ConstructEU2050

LinkedIn: Construction 2050 Alliance

Website: https://euconstruction2050.eu

Hashtag: #EUConstruction2050


LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION


European Climate Law: Council and Parliament reach provisional agreement

© Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal

The EU has adopted ambitious new targets to combat climate change, with a pledge to make them legally binding. Under a new law agreed between member states and the European Parliament, the bloc will cut carbon emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. The EU parliament had pushed for a higher target of a 60% reduction.

The deal came ahead of a virtual summit of world leaders, where the US announced its own climate targets for 2030.

The Commission tabled its proposal for a European Climate Law on 4 March 2020. Once the provisional agreement is formally approved by Parliament and Council, the European Climate Law will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and will enter into force.

Read the press release here.


New European Bauhaus prizes launched

© European Commission

Applications are now open for the first New European Bauhaus prizes, launched by Commissioner Ferreira and Commissioner Gabriel at the project’s first public conference.

The ten prize categories are themed around the core pillars of the New European Bauhaus initiative: sustainability, quality of experience, beauty and inclusion:

1. Techniques, materials and processes for construction and design.

2. Building in a spirit of circularity.

3. Solutions for the co-evolution of built environment and nature.

4. Regenerated urban and rural spaces.

5. Products and life style.

6. Preserved and transformed cultural heritage.

7. Reinvented places to meet and share.

8. Mobilisation of culture, arts and communities.

9. Modular, adaptable and mobile living solutions.

10. Interdisciplinary education models.

For each of the ten categories there will also be a specific ‘New European Bauhaus Rising Stars’ strand, open to under-30s. The idea is to support and encourage the younger generation to continue developing new ideas and exciting concepts.

The application period is open until 31 May 2021 (apply here). Both EU and non-EU nationals can apply, as long as their concepts, ideas and projects are actually developed or physically located in the EU.

Winners will receive cash prizes as well as support to spread the message about their project.


Commission Unveils New Sustainable Finance Package

© Bloomberg

The European Commission unveiled an important package on EU Taxonomy which will enhance investors’ ability to contribute to the EU Green Deal by reorientating capital toward sustainable investments.

The package is comprised of:

  • the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act;
  • a proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD);
  • six amending Delegated Acts on fiduciary duties.

For more information, read the press release and check out the factbook.


OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS


GCCA ‘Concrete in Life’ 2020 Photography Competition

© @nurlan_tahirli, Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan

The GCCA ‘Concrete in Life’ global photography competition celebrates the essential nature and beauty of concrete in our lives.

Congratulations to Nurlan Tahirli, the overall winner of Concrete in Life 2020, who wins the $10,000 grand prize for the picture of Heydar Aliyev Center (built in 2012, architect: Zaha Hadid, style: Neo-futurism).

Check the winners in all categorieres here.

© GCCA, CBR Building, Brussels, Belgium

The picture of CBR Building in Brussels (built in 1970, architects: Constantin Brodzki and Marcel Lambrichs, style: New Brutalism) was among the finalists. This recently renovated office building with prefabricated modular facade has been added to the list of protected heritage within the Brussels Capital Region in 2018.