What are relevant current and future laws and regulations on circular construction? What spatial strategies do help regions and companies?
If we continue to use the resources we do now, we would need three planets of Earth by 2050. Due to resource constraints and climate issues, the EU aims to move from a ‘take-use-dispose’ society to a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050 at the latest.
Construction of buildings account for 50% of the extraction and consumption of resources and 40% of the EU’s energy consumption. Circular buildings are therefore crucial to reach this very ambitious aim.
But what does this mean for densely built-up urban areas? Where can we find space to accommodate circular construction? What are current European and national laws and regulations to stimulate circularity in construction, and what new rules are upcoming?
The METREX Symposium explored the latest spatial developments and laws that will affect the construction industry, both for companies and public authorities, with concrete examples from frontrunning cities. We discussed spatial strategies, and looked into the impact of current and upcoming rules such as the reviewed Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
The Program of the Symposium is shown below :
14 November 2024
13.00-17.00 CET time: Rules – The necessity of building in a circular way | What are relevant rules | The experiences of a Dutch urban region
13:00 Introduction by moderator Willem van Winden.
Willem is professor Urban Economic Innovation at the Hogeschool Amsterdam and focuses on Circular Economy and Doughnut Economics
13:10 Welcome by Henk Bouwman, Secretary General of METREX
13:20 Why to build in a circular way? What is the urgency of the topic?
Menno Rubbens, Cepezed.
Menno has been a project developer and director of Cepezed projects since 2000. In each project, he tries to incorporate a new element or aspect on behalf of circular architecture.
13:45 Q&A
13:55 Latest insights into (EU-) laws and regulations on Circular Construction.
Fanauw Hoppe and Eveline Bakker, Circulaw.
Circulaw is a knowledge platform that provides legal tools and insight into Dutch and European legislation for the circular transition. Fanauw is specialized in strategy, procurement and contracting for sustainable, climate neutral/positive and circular development. Eveline is specialized in procurement law and sustainability and in legal instruments to accelerate the circular economy.
14:15 Q&A
14:35 Break
15:00 Circular construction policies and activities of the Leiden region and their experiences with laws and regulations.
Michiel Bosch, City of Leiden. Michiel is Advisor Circular and Future Proof Constructing.
15:20: Q&A
15:30 Discussion on separate tables with experts on EU rules and spatial experts from METREX regions
16:30 Conclusions of the afternoon
17:00 End of Day 1 Program
Rapporteur of Day 1: Mariia Chernova, Amsterdam Municipality
19.00 Network Dinner at Botanica, Kneuterdijk 8, 2514 EN, The Hague
15 November 2024
09.00-12.00 CET time: The spatial consequences of circular construction | The experiences of a Dutch urban region | Panel discussion
9:00 Introduction by moderator Willem van Winden
9:10 Petra Cafnik, Academic Director Unknown Group, Introduction Titaan and Circularity
9:20 Bart Bomas, BVR: spatial strategies for circular construction, Bart is senior project leader at BVR advisors on spatial developments.
9:40 Q&A
9:50 Chandar van der Zande, City of Amsterdam, The EU Taxonomy and how to translate to local circular construction policies
10:10 Q&A
10:20 Break
10:50 Panel discussion and conclusions of the Symposium
Panel members:
- Arco Timmermans, Leiden University
- Menno Rubbens, cepezed
- Richard Koek, City of The Hague
- Eveline Bakker, Circulaw
- Chandar van der Zande, City of Amsterdam
- Bart Bomas, BVR
- Michiel Bosch, City of Leiden
Discussion on European rules, public-private cooperation and the role of METREX on separate tables with experts on EU rules and spatial experts from METREX regions
Expected takeaways of the Symposium
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- Which spatial strategies can help regions and companies to speed up circularity in construction?
- What are urgent issues on circular construction which should be put on regional, national and European agendas?
Rapporteur of Day 2: Jurre Baijards, City of The Hague
12:00 Closing of the Symposium
12:00-13:00 Network Lunch at De Titaan
Cover photo: Maarten Reiling
