The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) has officially launched its Construction and Demolition branch. Aiming to represent European recyclers’ interests, the new branch will evaluate and contribute to the implementation of the EU’s Green Deal and Industrial Strategy by promoting a circular economy approach.

Accounting for 10% of the total value added in the EU economy, the construction sector drives economic growth, employing around 25 million people and representing some 5 million companies, mostly SMEs. However, it is also one of the most resource intensive sectors, generating 30% of the EU’s annual waste and 9,4% of its total carbon footprint, according to the European Commission. For European recyclers, it is a key sector for achieving the EU’s climate neutrality objective and it requires a more sustainable use of construction materials, which cannot be achieved without increased recycling.

“The Construction and Demolition branch is the seventh branch of EuRIC. It is launched at a time where construction and demolition waste as a stream is under intense scrutiny by policy-makers at EU and Member State level. EuRIC looks forward to working with all concerned stakeholders to boost circularity across the sector” stressed Emmanuel Katrakis, Secretary General of EuRIC. Therefore, the branch will advocate for the full application of circular economy principles in the construction sector by incentivizing the use of circular construction materials and leveling the playing field with extracted raw materials. In addition, advocacy will be focusing on the setting up of a proper EU regulatory framework that boosts the use of C&D waste in the construction sector and beyond, green procurement, standardization that supports the use of circular materials and products, comprehensive end-of-waste criteria or mandatory recycled content in construction products.