BUILDERS

Building Up Industry Loops through Development, evaluation, and testing of an Extended producer Responsibility Scheme for construction products

CENTRE TECHNIQUE INDUSTRIEL DE LA PLASTURGIE ET DES COMPOSITES, TERRA, VALOBAT, BUILDINGS PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE EUROPE ASBL, FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV, AIMPLAS, RECYCLING EUROPE, ENERGIEINSTITUT AN DER JOHANNES KEPLER UNIVERSITAT LINZ VEREIN, AGENCE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT ET DE LA MAITRISE DE L'ENERGIE, GS1 IN EUROPE, EUROPEAN RESILIENT FLOORING MANUFACTURER'S INSTITUTE VZW, UNILIN, B.I.G. FLOORCOVERINGS, TARKETT GDL SA, POLYFLOR LIMITED, GERFLOR, The European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association, IVL SVENSKA MILJOEINSTITUTET AB, RECOVINYL, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT, FLEXDELFT BV, CROSS-BORDER RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

Objectives

BUILDERS aims to design, test, and validate harmonised, robust, and scalable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for construction products, contributing to the closure of material loops and supporting the transition towards a circular economy in the construction sector. To achieve this, the project will develop operational models that incentivise eco-design, reuse, repair, and high-value recycling, generating evidence of their environmental, economic, and social benefits while supporting the creation of a more circular and sustainable single market for construction products in Europe.

Description

The project will take an integrated approach to addressing the technical, economic, regulatory, digital, and social aspects required for the effective implementation of EPR schemes in the construction sector. Through pilot actions in different European regions and across several product categories, including flooring, pipes, and sanitary equipment, BUILDERS will assess eco-modulation fee mechanisms, digital product passports, and new circular business models. In addition, the project will combine large-scale demonstrators with advanced life cycle assessments (LCA, LCC, and S-LCA) and behavioural studies to validate solutions, improve material traceability, and develop policy recommendations and practical guidelines for public authorities, businesses, and other stakeholders across the value chain.