Event Overview

The European Sustainable Construction Conference will unite policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and civil society to address the construction sector’s role in driving sustainability and competitiveness. Contributing 9% of the EU’s GDP and employing 18 million people, the sector also generates over 35% of the EU’s waste and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Key discussions will focus on aligning with EU policies like the Circular Economy Action Plan, Construction Transition Pathway, and New European Bauhaus Initiative. Topics include reducing waste, advancing material reuse, lifecycle design, and managing construction waste to meet circular economy goals. Digitalisation through Building Information Modelling (BIM) and AI will highlight efficiency and sustainability improvements, while the New European Bauhaus ethos will explore blending sustainability with cultural and modern design.

The conference will also address resilient supply chains, workforce upskilling, and inclusion to support green and digital transitions. Participants will collaborate on actionable strategies and policies to position the construction sector as a leader in sustainability, resilience, and long-term European competitiveness.

Key Themes

Circular Economy and
Tackling Waste

Sustainable Materials

Energy Efficiency and
Affordable Housing

Water Resilience

Digitalisation and AI

Public Procurement

Reconstruction and the
New European Bauhaus

Supply Chains and
Workforce

Speakers

Sara Mattheiu
MEP Sara Matthieu

Member of ITRE Committee and ENVI Rapporteur of the Construction Products Regulation
Group of the Greens

European Parliament
MEP-Pietikainen-Portrait
MEP Sirpa Pietkäinen

Member ECON Committee
Group EPP

European Parliament
andrea_wechsler_16
MEP Andrea Wechsler

Member ITRE Committee
Group EPP

European Parliament
mep ros sempere
MEP Marcos Ros Sempere

Member REGI Committee
Group S&D

European Parliament
MEP Radan Kanev, Group EPP, Member of the ENVI Committee, European Parliament
MEP Radan Kanev

Member ENVI Committee
Group EPP

European Parliament
anders-danielsson
Anders Danielsson

President and Chief Executive Officer

Skanska
SimonHolcim
Simon Kronenberg

CEO
Central & East Europe

Holcim
Quote card - Barbara Bonvissuto Background Removed
Barbara Bonvissuto

Director – Construction, Machinery and Market Surveillance
DG GROW

European Commission
Wolfgang-Trunk-320x320
Dr Wolfgang Trunk

Team Leader, Circular Economy – From Waste to Resources
DG ENV

European Commission
Photo-Stefan-Moser
Stefan Moser

Head of Unit for the new Commission Task Force on Housing
DG ENER

European Commission
Ceulemans-Frederik_1
Frederik Ceulemans

Alderman of Urban Renewal, Climate, Citizen Participation and Dutch-language Affairs

City of Brussels
Katharina Knapton-Vierlich, Head of Unit –Construction, DG GROW
Katharina Knapton-Vierlich,

Head of Unit –Construction
DG GROW

European Commission
Pieter Staelens, Head of Sector Sustainable Construction, DG GROW, European Commission
Pieter Staelens

Head of Sector Sustainable Construction
DG GROW

European Commission
VeraWinthagen
Vera Winthagen

Acting Head of Unit – New European Bauhaus
JRC

European Commission
Ilias-Iakovidis
Ilias Iakovidis

Advisor – Digital aspects of the Green Transition
DG CONNECT

European Commission
FlemingVoetmann_26233_crop02
Fleming Voetmann

Vice President for External Relations and Sustainability

VELUX
Allison-Scott-photo for website
Allison Scott

Director, Sustainability Growth and Engagement

Autodesk
046A9800 kopi
Ditte Lysgaard Vind

Chief Innovation and Science Officer

BloxHub
Shiraz Dromi, Group Public Affairs Director EMEA:APAC, Knauf Insulation
Shiraz Dromi

Group Public Affairs Director EMEA/APAC

Knauf Insulation
Pascal Eveillard, Director for Sustainable Business Development, Saint-Gobain
Pascal Eveillard,

Director for Sustainable Business Development

Saint-Gobain
GaleazziFrancesca-300x300
Francesca Galeazzi

Partner

KPMG
Etex_Patrick Balemans
Patrick Balemans

Chief Sustainability & CSR Officer

Etex
Angeliki Konstantinopoulou, Executive Director, Sustainable Energy Finance Association (SEFA)
Angeliki Konstantinopoulou

Executive Director

Sustainable Energy Finance Association (SEFA)
Fiona Félix, Public Affairs Lead, Hansgrohe Group
Fiona Félix

Public Affairs Lead

Hansgrohe Group
Saila Vicente
Saila Vicente

Sustainability Manager

Bentley Systems
Lettenbichler_picture
Sofia Lettenbichler

Managing Director

E.V.V.E
Oliver-RAPF-1
Oliver Rapf

Executive Director

Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE)
Bernd_Gawlik
Bernd Gawlik

Portfolio Co-Leader for Climate and Water Resilience
JRC

European Commission
Laura-Pallares-headshot_transparent
Laura Pallares

Head of Europe

World Green Building Council
Adrian_Joyce_less_than_1MB
Adrian Joyce

Secretary General

Efficient Buildings Europe
Flaminia
Flaminia Borelli

Research Lead for Climate Adaptation

Urban AI
Sorcha-Edwards_Web-1152x1536
Sorcha Edwards

Secretary General

Housing Europe
1777766_Jim-Heverin
Jim Heverin

Director

Zaha Hadid Architects
Ella Havnevik Giske
Ella Havnevik Giske

Senior Advisor, Climate Agency

City of Oslo
Dr.-Janyl-Moldalieva
Janyl Moldalieva

Senior Policy Officer

UNEP
Jorn Verbeeck
Jorn Verbeeck

Board Member

EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission
rcaranta.fotografia
Roberto Caranta

Professor of Administrative Law

University of Turin

To discuss speaking opportunities at the event, please contact:

Simon Hayman at simon.hayman@techforclimateaction.com

Agenda

Speakers:

  • MEP Sara Matthieu, Group of the Greens, Member of ITRE Committee and ENVI Rapporteur of the Construction Products Regulation, European Parliament

  • Barbara Bonvissuto, Director – DG GROW H – Construction, Machinery and Market Surveillance, European Commission

  • Anders Danielsson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Skanska

  • Simon Kronenberg, CEO, Central & East Europe, Holcim

The EU Circular Economy Action Plan underscores the importance of sustainable material cycles and waste reduction in the construction sector. This session will explore policies, practical approaches, and innovations aimed at minimising waste, reducing resource consumption, and promoting lifecycle design.

The Competitiveness Compass highlights resource efficiency and decarbonisation, which closely align with this session’s focus on circular material use, waste reduction, and sustainability policies. The Construction Product Regulation (CPR) plays a crucial role in regulating product life cycles, ensuring that construction materials meet sustainability criteria and comply with EU standards, thereby driving consistency and improving environmental performance across the sector.

Stakeholders from the European Commission, Parliament, and industry will share insights into best practices, including strategies for managing construction and demolition waste, fostering secondary material markets, localising supply chains to reduce waste and reliance on external resources, and implementing circular principles throughout the value chain. Discussions will also highlight the role of digital waste tracking, improved demolition techniques, and harmonised EU policies in achieving sustainability goals.

  • How can circular economy principles be embedded across the construction value chain to minimise waste and promote sustainable material cycles?
  • What role does the Construction Product Regulation (CPR) play in ensuring that materials comply with EU sustainability criteria and drive circularity in the sector?
  • How can policymakers and industry leaders scale secondary material markets and improve the reuse of construction and demolition waste?
  • What technological and policy innovations, such as digital waste tracking and improved demolition techniques, can enhance resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact?

Speakers:

  • MEP Sirpa Pietkäinen, Group EPP, Member of the ECON Committee, European Parliament
  • Aurel Ciobanu Dordea, Director – Circular Economy, DG ENV, European Commission
  • Simon Kronenberg, CEO, Central & East Europe, Holcim
  • Pascal Eveillard, Director for Sustainable Business Development, Saint-Gobain
  • Saila Vicente, Sustainability Manager, Bentley Systems
  • Laura Pallares, Head of Europe, World Green Building Council (Moderator)

Sustainable material innovation is essential to achieving the EU’s goals under the Construction Transition Pathway. The Construction Product Regulation (CPR) prioritises product performance, reuse, and recycling standards, providing a vital framework to ensure materials meet sustainability requirements while delivering both environmental and economic benefits.

This session will highlight innovative solutions that support a circular economy—from closed-loop recycling systems and bio-based alternatives to urban mining and secondary material markets. By aligning with the Competitiveness Compass, the discussion will explore how circular material innovation can strengthen the construction sector’s competitiveness while ensuring compliance with EU sustainability objectives.

Experts from EU institutions, national and local policymakers, and the construction sector will share insights on fostering material sustainability through research, market incentives, and urban planning. The discussion will also emphasise the crucial role of skilled labour in advancing material recycling and innovation.

By showcasing best practices and innovative strategies, this session aims to inspire collaboration, driving the widespread adoption of sustainable materials and fostering innovation across the sector.

  • How can circular economy principles be embedded in material innovation to promote reuse and waste reduction?
  • What policy and regulatory mechanisms, including the Construction Product Regulation (CPR), can accelerate the transition to circular and sustainable materials?
  • How can industry and policymakers scale up secondary material markets and strengthen supply chains for recycled and reclaimed materials?
  • What skills and workforce development initiatives are needed to advance material innovation and circular construction practices?

Speakers:      

  • Katharina Knapton-Vierlich, Head of Unit –Construction, DG GROW, European Commission
  • Fleming Voetmann, Vice President for External Relations and Sustainability, VELUX
  • Patrick Balemans, Chief Sustainability & CSR Officer, Etex Group
  • Jorn Verbeeck, Board Member, EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission (Moderator)

  • Frederik Ceulemans, Alderman of Urban Renewal, Climate, Citizen Participation and Dutch-language Affairs, City of Brussels

Aligned with the European Industrial Strategy and Competitiveness Compass, digital technologies—particularly AI, IoT, and Building Information Modelling (BIM)—are transforming the construction sector by enabling circular economy principles at scale. Digitalisation must go beyond improving productivity; it must drive material efficiency, waste reduction, and circular construction practices that extend building lifecycles and reduce environmental impact.

This session will explore how data-driven technologies can drive circularity in construction. AI-driven analytics and digital twins can optimize resource use and material flows, reducing waste. Digital tools can also enhance renovation practices by identifying reuse opportunities in existing buildings. BIM and digital supply chains can improve material tracking and lifecycle assessments, ensuring better resource management. The discussion will highlight how digital solutions can support policymakers and industry in embedding circular principles into both public and private construction projects.

A key emphasis will be on how BIM, AI, and digital platforms can streamline renovations—particularly under the HouseEurope! initiative—to reduce costs, extend building lifespans, and scale circular refurbishment practices.

Additionally, the session will highlight the need for workforce upskilling to ensure that digital solutions are fully leveraged for circular construction, fostering innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness across the sector.

  • How can AI and predictive analytics enable circular construction by reducing waste, optimising resource use, and supporting material reuse?
  • How can BIM and digital twin technology improve material tracking and lifecycle assessments to enhance circularity?
  • What role does digitalisation play in scaling circular renovation efforts, particularly in reusing materials from existing building stock?
  • What training and workforce development strategies are needed to ensure the construction sector can fully leverage digital tools for circularity?

 

Speakers:          

  • Ilias Iakovidis, Advisor – Digital aspects of the Green Transition, DG CONNECT European Commission
  • Allison Scott, Director, Sustainability Growth and Engagement, Autodesk
  • Oliver Rapf, Executive Director, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE)
  • Adrian Joyce, Secretary General, Efficient Buildings Europe
  • Flaminia Borelli, Research Lead for Climate Adaptation, Urban AI (moderator)

Energy efficiency is at the heart of Europe’s climate transition, with renovation and resilient buildings playing a crucial role in reducing emissions, lowering energy costs, and ensuring long-term sustainability. As affordability remains a politically complex issue, this session will shift the focus toward energy-efficient retrofitting, sustainable renovation strategies, and policy mechanisms that align climate ambition with social needs.

This discussion will explore key EU strategies such as the Renovation Wave, the New European Bauhaus (NEB), and the Affordable Housing Initiative, emphasizing the importance of energy-efficient upgrades over new builds. Experts will examine financing mechanisms—including Horizon Europe and national funding schemes—aimed at accelerating deep renovation and making sustainable housing more accessible.

The session will also highlight public-private collaboration, featuring EU-funded pilot projects that demonstrate scalable, cost-effective solutions. By bridging policy frameworks with industry innovation, this discussion will provide actionable pathways to make Europe’s buildings more resilient, adaptable, and climate-aligned while ensuring energy efficiency remains a key driver of affordability.

  • How can retrofitting Europe’s existing building stock be accelerated to meet nearly zero-energy building (NZEB) standards?
  • What role do passive heating/cooling and renewable energy systems play in reducing energy poverty?
  • How can circular economy principles be embedded in renovation strategies to lower carbon footprints and enhance long-term sustainability?
  • What financing mechanisms and policy incentives can make large-scale renovation projects more accessible and affordable?
  • How can public-private partnerships drive cost-effective, scalable solutions for energy-efficient housing?

Speakers:

  • MEP Andrea Wechsler, Group EPP, Member of ITRE Committee, European Parliament
  • Stefan Moser, Head of Unit for the new Commission Task Force on Housing, DG ENER, European Commission
  • Shiraz Dromi, Group Public Affairs Director EMEA/APAC, Knauf Insulation
  • Francesca Galeazzi, Partner, KPMG
  • Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General, Housing Europe (Moderator)

  • Ditte Lysgaard Vind, Chief Innovation and Science Officer, BloxHub

  • Ella Havnevik Giske, Senior Advisor, Climate Agency, City of Oslo

Public procurement accounts for a significant share of GDP across EU Member States, making it a powerful tool for accelerating circularity, sustainability, and climate action. With procurement influencing material choices, lifecycle emissions, and waste reduction, embedding circular economy principles into public sector contracts is critical to meeting EU Green Deal objectives and achieving net-zero infrastructure development.

This session will explore how harmonising green procurement policies can drive innovation in low-carbon, circular technologies and support the transition to a resource-efficient built environment. The discussion will highlight the role of the Construction Product Regulation (CPR) in standardising procurement criteria, ensuring materials meet sustainability benchmarks across EU projects.

By fostering collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, and procurement professionals, this session will offer insights into how public procurement can become a primary driver of circularity, waste reduction, and climate resilience.

  • How can regulatory misalignment across Member States be addressed to create a unified, circular public procurement framework?
  • What mechanisms can enhance supply chain resilience and ensure the availability of sustainable, low-carbon materials?
  • How can procurement policies embed lifecycle emissions criteria, ensuring materials and infrastructure meet long-term environmental standards?
  • How can public procurement help upskill the workforce and ensure that professionals are equipped to support circular construction practices?

 

Speakers:

  • MEP Nikolina Brnjac, Group EPP, Member of the TRAN Committee, Substitute on HOUS Special Committee, European Parliament
  • Pieter Staelens, Head of Sector Sustainable Construction, DG GROW, European Commission
  • Angeliki Konstantinopoulou, Executive Director, Sustainable Energy Finance Association (SEFA)
  • Jim Heverin, Director, Zaha Hadid Architects
  • Roberto Caranta, Professor of Administrative Law, University of Turin (Moderator)

Water resilience is a critical pillar of sustainable and circular construction, ensuring efficient water management, reuse, and regeneration throughout the building lifecycle. This session will explore how innovative water-efficient technologies, circular water strategies—such as water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and nature-based solutions—and consumer engagement can be integrated into urban planning and construction to enhance climate adaptation efforts.

Experts from the European Commission, industry, and academia will discuss cutting-edge innovations that minimise water waste, maximise reuse, and create self-sustaining water systems within buildings and cities. The session will also explore how water efficiency contributes to broader climate resilience goals and highlight real-world examples demonstrating successful implementation. Additionally, the discussion will emphasize the importance of workforce training and consumer awareness in promoting circular water management.

  • How can circular water management strategies, such as water reuse and closed-loop systems, be embedded into urban planning and construction?
  • What role do innovative water-efficient technologies play in advancing circular water management within the built environment?
  • How does water efficiency in construction contribute to climate resilience and support EU sustainability targets?
  • What strategies can policymakers and industry adopt to encourage consumer engagement in water-efficient behaviours?
  • How can water resilience strategies be integrated with energy-efficient and circular material practices to maximize environmental benefits?

Speakers:        

  • MEP Radan Kanev, Group EPP, Member of the ENVI Committee, European Parliament 
  • Bernd Gawlik, Portfolio Co-Leader for Climate and Water Resilience, JRC, European Commission (Moderator)
  • Fiona Félix, Public Affairs Lead, Hansgrohe Group
  • Sofia Lettenbichler, Managing Director, E.V.V.E

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is more than an aesthetic movement—it is a framework for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban transformation. By embedding circular economy principles, energy efficiency, and adaptive reuse into the built environment, NEB serves as a blueprint for reconstruction and urban renewal in Europe.

This session will explore how NEB can drive large-scale renovation efforts, ensuring that modernisation aligns with sustainability and cultural heritage preservation. Discussions will focus on renovation as a key strategy for reducing carbon emissions while enhancing the resilience and adaptability of existing infrastructure. HouseEurope! and other innovative urban renewal models will be highlighted as examples of how aesthetics, sustainability, and social impact can be integrated into rebuilding efforts across Europe.

By addressing supply chain resilience, circular material flows, and workforce upskilling, this session will offer actionable strategies for scaling climate-conscious, socially inclusive reconstruction efforts.

  • How can circular economy principles be embedded in urban renewal and reconstruction efforts under the New European Bauhaus?
  • What role does renovation play in balancing cultural heritage preservation, sustainability, and modern infrastructure needs?
  • How can resilient supply chains and sustainable material sourcing be secured for large-scale reconstruction projects?
  • What training and workforce development initiatives are needed to ensure skilled labour can uphold NEB’s core sustainability and design values?

Speakers:         

  • MEP Marcos Ros Sempere, Group S&D, Member of the REGI Committee, European Parliament
  • Vera Winthagen, Acting Head of Unit – New European Bauhaus, JRC, European Commission

Please note the agenda is subject to change

To discuss speaking opportunities at the event, please contact:

Simon Hayman at simon.hayman@techforclimateaction.com

Event Partners

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Event Partners

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Event Partners

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Organised by

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If you are interested in becoming an event partner, please contact:

Simon Hayman | simon.hayman@techforclimateaction.com | +44 (0) 7949 349 328.

Costs

Standard

Applies to: Corporate, Trade Association, Law / Public Affairs Firm

€145

Reduced

Applies to: NGO/Not-for-Profit

€95

 

Academic / Student

Applies to: Academic / Student

€45

Free

Applies to: European Commission / Parliament / Council, EU Permanent Representatives, National Government / Regulator & Diplomatic Mission to the EU, Local Government / City Officials, Press

FREE

 

*Please note that fees do not include Belgian VAT @ 21%, and this amount will be added to the total price when you are invoiced.

Participation costs

Please kindly note that this is a fully in-person event, there will be no virtual element to this event, so please only register if you are able to physically participate in Brussels. 

This is a paid event, please see registration fees for each organisation type in the table below.

***Early Bird prices will apply until midnight on 6 September, 2024***

 

* Please note that fees do not include Belgian VAT @ 21%, and this amount will be added to the total price when you are invoiced.

Costs

Corporate

Corporate / Trade Association
€110
€ Free
  • Discount until 18th January 2025
Register Here

Reduced

NGO / Not-for-Profit
€85
€ Free
  • Discount until 18th January 2025
Register Here

Academic

Academic / Student
€65
€ Free
  • Discount until 18th January 2025
Register Here

Complimentary

Government / Policymaker
€ Free
  •  
Register Here

Press / Media

Journalist / Press
€ Free
  •  
Register Here

Costs

Corporate

Corporate / Trade Association
€ 109
  •  
Register Here

Reduced

NGO / Not-for-Profit
€ 69
  •  
Register Here

Academic

Academic / Student
€ 49
  •  
Register Here

Complimentary

Government / Policymaker
€ Free
  •  
Register Here

Press / Media

Journalist / Press
€ Free
  •  
Register Here

Event Venue

Contact

For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact Simon Hayman at:

simon.hayman@techforclimateaction.com

This conference supports the Sustainable Development Goals

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