Glass for Europe recently participated in a roundtable discussion on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the construction sector, organized by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) on 16 April.
The workshop aimed to assess the potential of EPR schemes for transitioning to a circular economy in the built environment, in light of the increasing circularity requirements in European policies.
During the roundtable, stakeholders and policymakers engaged in a fruitful exchange, discussing the relevance of EPR schemes in the construction sector. Two case studies were presented: the French comprehensive EPR scheme covering all construction and demolition waste, and the Dutch VRN scheme focusing on the collection and recycling of flat glass.
Bertrand Cazes, Secretary General of Glass for Europe, highlighted the industry’s commitment to developing a closed-loop system for flat glass, emphasizing the potential for increased recycling rates to reduce the use of primary raw materials, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions from glass manufacturing. He stressed the importance of collecting and sorting end-of-life glazing to ensure high-quality secondary materials for flat glass production.
The discussions also touched upon the importance of understanding the intended end use of collected construction materials to establish effective collection and sorting systems. It was acknowledged that while EPR systems are a valuable tool, they may not be suitable for all construction products depending on their specificities and recycling streams.
Additionally, the workshop provided a platform to discuss other policy measures to incentivize recycling and reduce waste, such as landfill bans, green public procurement, and setting recycling targets for individual construction materials. Some of these measures align with Glass for Europe’s recommendations on promoting sustainability in the construction sector.
Source:Glass for Europe with additional information added by GlassBalkan