Concrete Perspectives July – August 2022
1. CONCRETE NEWS
New Managing Director of VÖB, Austria
As of 1 August 2022, Anton Glasmaier has become Managing Director (MD) of the Association of Austrian Concrete and Precast Plants (VÖB), succeeding the interim MD Bernhard Rabenreither, who had held this position since March 2022. Mr. Glasmaier is no stranger to the VÖB. Since 2016, Mr. Glasmaier has been active within VÖB as an auditor as well as with the wall/ceiling product group and in the safety working group. As MD, Anton Glasmaier will take care of the VÖB’s finances, marketing and public relations, while the technical part of the management will remain in the hands of Paul Kubeczko.
In his strategic orientation, Mr. Glasmaier wants to accompany the VÖB member companies in the topics of sustainability, CO2 reduction and climate neutrality.
Dansk Betondag 2022, Sept. 22-23, Denmark
Danish Concrete Day (Dansk Betondag 2022) is an annual recurring event that is considered one of DBF’s (Dansk Betonforening) “flagships”. Apart from DBF’s 25, 40, 50 and 70th anniversaries, which were held in Copenhagen, “Betondagen” is always a provincial event.
Dansk Betondag 2022 will broadly focus on how concrete can be made more sustainable. The audience will hear about 3D printing, constructions with multi-use and various optimization conditions and much more. Moreover, excursion is planned to the construction site for Storstrømsbroen.
Agenda and registration can be found here.
CarbonZero Global Conference and Exhibition, Nov. 10-11, Portugal
CarbonZero Global Conference and Exhibition (Nov. 10-11, 2022, Lisbon) is welcoming the Federation of the European Precast Concrete Industry (BIBM) as a strategic partner (read the press release here). The Federation’s members can now attend CarbonZero: Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials Global Conference and Exhibition 2022 with significant discounts. The event held on November 10 and 11 at the luxurious Pestana Palace Hotel & National Monument Lisbon is a one of a kind forum that will showcase the best climate-friendly solutions for the cement and construction industry. Meet top executives at the upcoming CarbonZero Global Conference and Exhibition: Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials. As a BIBM Member, you can register as a delegate with an extra discount of 10%. Claim your discount at carbonzero@industrylink.eu mentioning the code BIBM10. The ticket also includes accommodation and spouse program. Programme and other details are available here: www.industrylink.eu. Others can register at www.industrylink.eu or contact carbonzero@industrylink.eu.
2. BIBM NEWS
The 24th BIBM Congress will take place in Amsterdam! From the 27th to the 29th of September 2023 the congress will be held in the Dutch capital – the “Venice of the North”. The congress will be under the slogan: ‘Green | Digital | Resilient | Precast Concrete Solutions’. Be part of the next BIBM Congress 2023 as exhibitor, congress participant or sponsor and meet potential partners and speakers from Europe and beyond!
DATE: 27 to 29 September 2023
VENUE: 5-Star Okura Hotel, Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
WEBSITE: https://bibmcongress.eu
HOST: BIBM – Federation of the European Precast Concrete Industry
ORGANISER: BCF – Building Congress Forum
Official hashtag: #BIBMCongress2023
Registration for Conference Delegates will be possible from 2023. If you want to be a part of the exhibition, click here.
If you would like to be a speaker at this event, please contact Ms. Magdalena Herbik mh@bibm.eu.
Public consultations and feedbacks
Stakeholder consultation on the ERA Industrial Technology Roadmap on Circular Industrial Technologies and Business Models for Energy-intensive industries, Textile and Construction
This public consultation is a milestone in the preparation of the Industrial Technology Roadmap on circular technologies and business models, aimed at boosting circularity in three industrial ecosystems: textiles, construction and energy-intensive industries.
Public consultation deadline: 30 September 2022
EU forests – new EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans
The aim of this initiative is to develop an EU-wide forest observation framework to provide open access to detailed, accurate, regular and timely information on the condition and management of EU forests, and on the many products and ecosystem services that forests provide.
This information will lead to more data-driven decision-making on forests. It is expected to increase public trust in forest management, reduce illegal logging, incentivise and reward more sustainable forest management, and support the adaptation of forests to climate change.
Public consultation deadline: 17 November 2022
Study on Measuring the Application of Circular Approaches in the Construction Industry Ecosystem
In order to fully reap the benefits of circular economy, we need a good view of the application of different circular economy approaches by different stakeholders across the value chain. To address this challenge, Deloitte will work on a study on measuring the application of circular approaches in the construction industry ecosystem for the European Commission. The study, which will last 12 months, aims at analysing how and to what extent different actors in the construction industry ecosystem are considering and applying circular approaches, and what drives or hinders them to do so.
Survey on application of circular approaches in the construction industry ecosystem is currently available here.
3. BIBM AGENDA
| SEPTEMBER 2022 | OCTOBER 2022 | NOVEMBER 2022 |
| 06/09 NEPSI Steering Committee kick-off meeting Brussels (BE) | 03/10: ECP Extraordinary Board Confcall | 09/11: BIBM Directors’ meeting Confcall |
| 08/09 The Concrete Initiative Confcall | 03/10: The Concrete Initiative Confcall | 22/10: NEPSI in Action Kick-off Conference Brussels (BE) |
| 09/09: The Concrete Initiative Concrete Dialogue 2022 (for TCI members) Confcall | 11/10: BIBM Environment Commission Brussels (BE) | 23/11: The Concrete Initiative Confcall |
| 12/09: CEN/TC 350 WG 3 Product level Confcall | 20/10: BIBM Technical Commission Brussels (BE) | 25/11: ECP Board Confcall |
| 10/10: CPE WG CPR & Sustainability Confcall | 25/10: ECP TF Health, Environment and Hygiene WG Microplastics Confcall | |
| 22/09: BIBM Communication Commission Amsterdam (NL) | ||
| 26/09: ECP TF Health, Environment and Hygiene Confcall | ||
| 27/09: BIBM Wastewater Engineering group Confcall | ||
| 29/09 BIBM Board Rheden (NL) |
4. WEBINARS AND OTHER EVENTS
| DATE | ORGANISER | INFORMATION |
| 9 September | The Concrete Initiative | Concrete Dialogue 2022 (final webinar): Carbon uptake in cement and concreate – the EU policy framework (Online/only for TCI members) |
| 12 September | CEN – CENELEC | ‘The potential of European Standards to support the European strategy towards a Green and Sustainable Environment’ Recording |
| 12 – 16 September | World Green Building Council | World Green Building Week Registration (Activities and events taking place around the world) |
| 15 September | European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform | EU Circular Talks – Accelerating circular behaviours: How can digitalisation help us? Registration |
| 16 September | New European Bauhaus (NEB) | NEB state of play and plans (for members of the NEB Lab) |
| 20 September | GCCA | GCCA Event at New York Climate Week – Towards Net Zero – Cement and Concrete Registration |
| 26 – 30 September | DG Energy & DG CINEA, European Commission | EUSEW 2022 – European Sustainable Energy Week Registration |
| 27 September | EP Sustainable, Long-term Investments & Competitive European Industry Intergroup | Sustainable Manufacturing: A Key Driver of the Green and Digital Transformation Registration (European Parliament, Brussels, BE) |
| 28 September | European Council of Civil Engineers | Engineering the New European Bauhaus: Reframing the Bauhaus framework from theory to practice Registration |
| 3 – 9 October | The Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development | Circular Week 2022 Registration (Series of events promoting sustainable production and consumption) |
| 10 October | The Concrete Centre | Sustainability Series: Getting closer to net zero using concrete Registration |
| 11 October | CEMBUREAU | Cementing Europe’s Future: Driving Innovation Towards Carbon Neutrality Registration |
| 12 October | European Commission | Regions, cities, and Level(s): Powering the green transition in Europe’s buildings Registration |
| 12 October | European Commission | Workshop – Study on measuring the application of circular approaches in the construction industry ecosystem Registration |
| 18 October | Construction 2050 Alliance | ‘Sustainable Finance: the impact of the European taxonomy in the construction sector’ (Brussels/Hybrid) Registration |
| 18 October | GCCA | Innovandi Open Challenge Demo Day Presentation Registration |
| 20 October | European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform | EU Circular Talks – What role do secondary materials play in new constructions and in buildings renovation? Registration |
| 10 – 11 November | Industry Link | CarbonZero Global Conference and Exhibition Registration |
5. BIBM PARTNERS NEWS
GCCA Concrete in Life 2022
The GCCA Concrete in Life 2022 photography competition has officially opened. The Concrete in Life competition celebrates the beauty of concrete by asking people from around the world to send in their photos of the role concrete plays in their everyday live. This competition will be run from the new Instagram page @concreteinlife (please follow).
Concrete in Life photography competition is open to anyone with a camera or smartphone – both amateurs and professional photographers around the world.
Deadline to enter: 31 October 2022, hashtag #ConcreteInLife2022
More information: https://gccassociation.org/concreteinlife2022/.
Concrete 2050 Alliance hybrid event on EU Taxonomy
Save the date for the next Construction 2050 Alliance event on 18 October (in Brussels or online) on Sustainable Finance and the impact of the EU Taxonomy on the construction sector.
The EU Taxonomy determines, amongst others, under which conditions key construction activities will be considered as sustainable in order to be eligible for sustainable investment. Hence, the Taxonomy will be a decisive factor when it comes to the access to private and public investment.
Find out more here.
CEMBUREAU event on driving Innovation towards carbon neutrality
CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association, is pleased to invite you to its annual event: “Cementing Europe’s Future: Driving Innovation Towards Carbon Neutrality”. It is taking place on Tuesday, October 11th, from 10.00 am to 13.00 (CET), at BOZAR in Brussels, as an in-person event (register here). The Conference will also be livestreamed on CEMBUREAU YouTube channel on the day of the event.
More than ever, innovation brought by the energy-intensive industries like cement is crucial both to reduce CO2 emissions, but also to cut our reliance on fossil fuels. This Conference will discuss how policy frameworks can be instrumental in supporting the cement industry’s transformation towards carbon neutrality and showcase the sector’s plans for innovation towards carbon neutrality along its value chain by 2050.
6. LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
The new Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU
On Friday 1 July 2022, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) began.
The Czech Presidency will put emphasis on the strategic resilience of the European economy EU’s energy security issues, which are currently more pressing than the energy transition, and on the accelerated implementation of REPowerEU. When it comes to environment, the priorities are:
- reaching agreements on the Fit for 55 files;
- decarbonisation of the EU industry and the transition from natural gas to hydrogen;
- nature restoration law; protecting vulnerable households during the green transition;
- global cooperation on climate and environment;
- agreeing on the “Deforestation” regulation.
To find out more, visit the official website of Czech Presidency here.
EU framework for Digital Building Logbooks
On 15th June, DG GROW held an initial webinar to launch the work of consultants on existing digital building logbooks that will guide the drafting of EU guidelines. A first update on their mapping of national building databases from Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Luxembourg has been made available. In addition, a scoping survey was launched and a second webinar on “Linking EU and national level databases on buildings and in construction” will be organised after the summer.
Should you be interested in these issues, you are invited to join the network here.
[Source: Construction Products Europe]
UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15)
On 7-19 December 2022 in Montreal, Canada, governments from around the world will come together to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action to protect and restore nature.
The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) will see the adoption of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework that will provide a strategic vision and a global roadmap for the conservation, protection, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems for the next decade.
The draft Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework has 21 action targets for 2030, including:
- Conservation of at least 30 percent of land and sea areas globally;
- Restoration of at least 20 percent of degraded freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. two thirds and eliminating discharge of plastic waste;
- Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts of at least 10 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
7. OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS
Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus
Moesgaard Museum is a popular attraction that has added to Aarhus’ cultural life by offering a fantastic experience for those who like architecture and love history.
The main construction that supports the large roof terrace is a complex concrete column-beam-system. One of the construction challenges was to incorporate highly technical construction solutions in the building invisibly. Spæncom, Consolis’ Danish subsidiary, overcame this by using a bearing roof beam placed in line with the pitch of the roof and horizontal joints for the subjacent columns, together with specially designed concealed fittings and embedment through shells of concrete to cover the joints.
Architect: Henning Larsen
Location: Aarhus, Denmark