Member States adopted conclusions on the circular economy of the construction sector (CPR) without debate on Thursday 28 November, in which they submit a long series of recommendations and tasks to the European Commission to cover the issue of the reuse of construction products.
The conclusions are intended to send a strong signal to the new European Commission, which is about to take office. DG Grow already consults Member States informally.
Thus, Member States make 11 recommendations to the European Commission, mainly concerning clarifications concerning the Construction Products Regulation and other legislative acts, but also the criteria for ending waste status with regard to reusable construction products. They propose to rework the terminology concerning the “reuse” and “recycling” of the CPR. In addition, they question the role of digital platforms in marketing these reusable products or the enabling conditions.
The real subject – explains a source close to the file – is the quality control of these reusable materials. Indeed, for the time being, it is very difficult to measure the quality of a product after use in a building, and even more so after several decades of life. The negotiation of the text, which should begin in 2020, is therefore particularly technical and difficult.
However, for Member States, it is worth it. The 2011 regulation does not cover the reuse of products (mainly cement, steel and plastic): once used, building materials cannot be resold and reused. However, according to the EU Council conclusions, a huge market could open up, potentially creating 6.5 million jobs, while contributing to the EU’s climate objectives, given the carbon and environmental footprint of the sector (40% of a country’s final energy, half of the world’s primary resources).
To consult the conclusions: http://bit.ly/33s7gtj (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)