Webinar “Reuse & Deconstruction”: A Cross-Border Dialogue in Support of Sustainable Construction
As part of the Interreg Greater Green+ project, Ligne Bois and CAP Construction organised a webinar on 8 October 2024 dedicated to reuse and deconstruction in the construction sector. This online event brought together 212 professionals and engaged 10 experts from different territories of the Greater Region around a shared objective: accelerating the transition toward more circular and sustainable construction.
Material Reuse: A Key Lever of the Circular Economy
In light of today’s environmental challenges, the construction sector— the largest producer of waste in the European Union—stands at the centre of the transformations that must take place. The reuse of materials represents a crucial lever for reducing the sector’s environmental impact, while also raising significant technical, regulatory and economic challenges.
The webinar therefore offered an in-depth analysis of existing solutions and the barriers that still need to be overcome. It addressed a wide range of topics, including eco-design, the structuring of reuse supply chains, the insurability of reused materials, and the evolution of regulatory frameworks at the European level.
Mobilising Stakeholders from Across the Greater Region
The event illustrated the cross-border dimension of the Greater Green+ project through the diversity of its speakers, who came from several countries across the Greater Region:
· Eco-design in construction Valérie Marx – Schroeder & Associés (Luxembourg)
· The Materials Passport Amélie Halbach – University of Liège (Belgium)
· Comprehensive solutions for construction waste management Thibaut Jacquet – Retrival (Belgium)
· Deconstruction and the circular economy law in Luxembourg Tristan Hartman – Polygone (Luxembourg)
· The impact of German regulations on substitute materials Dr Suzanne Hartard – Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld / Hochschule Trier (Germany)
· The reuse sector Cécile Guichard – Rotor DC (Belgium)
· Supporting companies in the transition Célestine Voegel – BOMA (France)
· Insurability of circular projects Timothy Bourgois – SECO (Belgium / Luxembourg)
· Circular economy pilot project – Michel Lucius High School Sophie Maurer – Luxembourg Public Buildings Administration (Luxembourg)
· The Remiremont project: deconstruction and material reuse Odran Lemaître – LERMAB / Vosgelis (France)
This diversity of speakers enabled a cross-comparison of national and regional approaches, while highlighting concrete initiatives and complementary feedback from experience.
Key Themes at the Heart of Professional Practice
The presentations explored several structuring topics essential to the development of material reuse in construction, including:
- integrating reuse from the design phase (eco-design and digital tools);
- developing innovative tools such as materials passports;
- managing and recovering construction site waste;
- national and European regulatory frameworks;
- insurability issues related to reused materials;
- supporting professionals and structuring reuse supply chains.
Concrete case studies—such as the selective deconstruction and reconstruction project in Remiremont, as well as the redevelopment of the Michel Lucius High School in Luxembourg—demonstrated both the feasibility and the benefits of these approaches.
A Platform for Exchange to Foster Shared Solutions
Beyond the technical contributions, the webinar also served as a valuable platform for dialogue between public, academic and private stakeholders. It provided an opportunity to share best practices, identify cross-border synergies and enrich collective reflection on the development of the circular economy in the construction sector.
By fostering these exchanges, Greater Green+ confirms its role as a catalyst for innovation and cooperation across the Greater Region, in support of more sustainable construction.
The full recording of this webinar is available here.
