Representatives from EU institutions, the construction industry, NGOs and civil society met in Brussels this week to discuss sustainable construction and the challenges facing the industry. The principle topics considered were the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental and economic.
The meeting took place as part of the Concrete Initiative, which will be officially launched on 27 May 2014. It hopes to bring together stakeholders and engage EU authorities on how to stimulate construction through policy measures and standards that generate growth and innovation in a more sustainable way.
The Concrete Initiative comprises the European Cement Association (Cembureau), the European Federation of Precast Concrete (BIBM) and the European Ready-Mixed Concrete Organisation (ERMCO).
Andy Winston, CLARCOR Industrial Air, USA, outlines various methods plants can take to comply with the new NESHAP emissions standards in the first part of this abridged article taken from the World Cement April 2014 issue.
New report concludes that the use of coal combustion residues including coal flyash in concrete and flue gas desulfurization gypsum in wallboard offer environmental and economic benefits.
European associations with a stake in waste management urge the European Commission to ensure SRF and RDF from waste remain under the control of waste legislation.