Chain Approaches in Raw Materials and Waste - The Case of Concrete

15th December 2009   Brussels, Belgium

Following recent discussions with the Netherlands' Ministry of the Environment (VROM) the Ecodesign Centre (EDC) were recently invited to share experiences in a workshop "Chain approach in raw materials and waste - The Case of Concrete", on 15 December 2009 in Brussels. The workshop was prepared by European Partners for the Environment (EPE) at the request of VROM.

EDC extended the invite to their Waste Strategy policy colleagues at the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). EDC are currently working with the WAG on a generic methodology for embedding ecodesign / life cycle thinking into all for the priority sector plans, focusing initially on the construction sector. Thus, Karin Black, Waste Policy Advisor, WAG, attended with Dr Frank O’Connor, EDC.

The event was very well attended with representatives from government policy teams, public and private sector organisations, industry associations and representatives from the European Commission. There were some thought provoking presentations and in-depth discussions on moving this integral policy approach forward, i.e. how to minimize environmental pressure resulting from extraction, processing, use and disposal or recycling of concrete – systems life cycle thinking perspective. Some actions were agreed to identify best practice with a follow on workshop provisionally scheduled for 30th March 2010.

For further information please contact Robbert Droop (VROM) or Robbert.Droop@minvrom.nl or Marco Torregrossa (EPE) marco.torregrossa@epe.be.