The Romanian National Environmental Guard marked its 22nd anniversary during the PRIA Circular Economy in Construction Conference, held at the Aula Magna of the Technical University of Constructions in Bucharest. The event brought together 220 participants and was further enhanced by live streaming, allowing for greater engagement and outreach.

The circular building sector is rooted in an economic model that prioritizes extending the lifespan of products, minimizing waste through reuse and recycling, and fostering social and economic growth. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also promotes prosperity across industries.

Across Europe, key players in the construction industry—architects, engineers, designers, and building materials companies—are increasingly embracing the reuse of materials and the recycling of waste as essential pillars of a circular building economy. A recent survey revealed that one-third of these stakeholders anticipate achieving a fully circular construction economy by 2030.

The focus remains on developing innovative solutions for recycling building materials. The primary challenge lies in maximizing the reuse of materials in the construction and renovation of buildings while minimizing resource wastage and advancing environmental protection.

Transitioning to a circular economy is not merely a necessity but a transformative opportunity. It enables the creation of solutions and products that address the performance, sustainability, and well-being needs of both current and future generations, while safeguarding the planet’s future.

A key driver of this transition is the synergy between waste generated by technological processes and renewable, reusable waste. According to recent data from the European Commission, measures like waste prevention, greening, and reuse could save EU companies up to 8% of their annual turnover while cutting total greenhouse gas emissions by 2–4%.

Furthermore, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is revolutionizing the way architects and engineers approach projects. By offering a three-dimensional design from the outset and providing detailed information about each project element, BIM facilitates more efficient design, construction, and operation processes, aligning with the principles of a circular economy.

Subjects tackled during the pannels:

• Directive 850/2018 of the Circular Economy Package, updating the Landfill Directive
• MDLPA projects on circular economy in construction
• How do we raise awareness on circular economy in the construction sector, reduce the generation of waste from construction materials?
• How can we reduce construction waste by re-incorporating it back into the value chain?
• NRRP and funds for construction waste
• What do producers of construction materials need to know about Law No. 249/2015 on how to manage packaging and packaging waste and beyond?
• How much percent of materials must be recycled materials in the composition of products?
• What about the construction of buildings and infrastructures how much recycled materials must be used, since when?
• Green Deal Romania and construction waste. What are the funds? Who manages them?
• Waste management coming from construction in Romania at the moment. What can be improved?
• Is it possible to separately collect construction material waste: metals; wood; packaging waste (cardboard/paper, plastic, etc.); drywall; industrial waste? How?
• The role of recycling companies, waste collectors, OIREPs, municipalities and central authorities? How to create an efficient management of these types of waste?
• What campaigns and programs does each construction company have to collect and reuse materials? What is the responsibility of construction companies and developers? What about building material manufacturers?
• Buildings and environmental impacts. Buildings have a significant environmental impact (40% energy consumption and 36% CO2 emissions)
• What are the challenges facing building material manufacturers and what solutions are they coming up with? What about builders?
• How much energy does a building consume? What are the solutions for lower connsum? What alternatives do building material manufacturers and utility companies come up with?
• Europe should become climate neutral by 2050. Decarbonization, reducing carbon emissions to the level at which they are fully absorbed by nature – a challenge for industry in Romania? How will cement companies adapt? How have building material manufacturers adapted?
• Digitalization and automation in the buildings and construction waste segment. Why is digitization important in this segment?
• How have environmental companies invested in digitization? How can digitization be used to better transpare this sector? Are there EU funds or grants for this? How can they be accessed?
• Advanced strategies for re-framing construction materials in the industrial value chain to promote the transition to the circular economy using BIM learning technologies