The European Rental Association (ERA) held its EU Industry Week event ‘Building a sustainable future – Transitioning towards a circular and low-carbon construction sector’ on 31 March 2021, 10:00-11:45 CET (online).
The event featured two panels of European policy and industry experts.
The first panel, with Iskra Mihaylova MEP (Renew Europe), Philippe Moseley (DG GROW) and Audrey Nugent (World Green Building Council), addressed the policy aspects of construction as a priority sector for promoting circular principles and reducing emissions.
The second panel brought the construction industry perspective on transitioning towards a circular and low-carbon construction sector. It featured representatives from Europe’s construction sector and supply chain, including Michel Petitjean (ERA), Sue Arundale (FIEC), Douglas McLuckie (Ashtead Group) and Peter Jordansson (Volvo CE).
The event also featured a presentation of the ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator, an independent and free-to-use online tool to enable equipment stakeholders to make more sustainable choices when using construction equipment.
Watch the full event here.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
10:00-10:05 – Welcome and introduction
10:05-10:35 – EU Policy Panel, moderated by Carole Bachmann, ERA
– Iskra Mihaylova MEP, Renew Europe Group
– Philippe Moseley, Sustainable Construction, DG GROW
– Audrey Nugent, World Green Building Council
10:35-10:45 – Presentation: ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator
10:45-11:30 – Construction Industry Panel, moderated by Murray Pollok, KHL
– Michel Petitjean, ERA
– Sue Arundale, FIEC
– Douglas McLuckie, Ashtead Group
– Peter Jordansson, Volvo CE
11:30-11:45 – Conclusion and closing
Renew Europe
Iskra Mihaylova has an extensive career in the field of EU cooperation, regional and environmental policy, and has been an MEP since 2014. She is currently vice chair of the Renew Europe group and is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and a substitute member of the Committee on Development (DEVE). She works actively in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and energy transition towards energy decarbonisation and green solutions, as well as on synergies between European policies.
European Commission
Philippe Moseley works in the Construction Unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW). He is responsible for policies regarding the competitiveness of the construction industry, with a focus on energy and resource efficiency aspects. Prior to joining the European Commission, he worked for some 15 years as a professional architect in the private sector. He holds Masters degrees in architecture from the Royal College of Art, London, and in urbanism from KU Leuven university, Belgium.
World Green Building Council
Audrey is Head of Advocacy at the World Green Building Council, advising on sustainable buildings policy for the Europe Regional Network (ERN) of over 23 national Green Building Councils (GBCs). In particular, Audrey’s work focuses on BUILD UPON, the world’s largest collaborative project on building renovation which was funded through the EU Horizon 2020 project. Audrey led the ERN’s response to the revision to the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Environmental Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Audrey also leads on the ERN’s position work on Level(s), the EU’s Sustainable Buildings Framework.
European Rental Association
Michel has been Secretary General of the European Rental Association since its creation in 2006 and has been active in the equipment rental and construction industries since 1970. From 1990 to 1998, Michel was President and CEO at Pinault Equipment S.A. and Affiliates, responsible for a group consisting of the third biggest rental company in the USA, Prime Equipment, the second biggest rental company in Canada, Perco, and the second biggest rental company in France, Pinault Equipment. From 1970 to 1990, Michel worked with Colas S.A. and Affiliates, first in Dijon (1970-80) and then in Madrid at Trabajos Bituminosos S.A. (1980-85) and New Jersey at Barrett Paving Inc. (1985-90). At Barrett, with 52 facilities in the northeastern USA, Michel was responsible for the company’s quarries, asphalt plants and highway construction activities.
European Construction Industry Federation, FIEC
Sue has worked in EU affairs for more than 20 years. She speaks English (native), French and German. She has a Master’s Degree in Leading Innovation and Change, from York St. John University and a Postgraduate Certificate in EU Law, validated by Nottingham Trent University. Her work at FIEC covers four main areas: Regulation and standardisation (main focus on the Construction Products Regulation); Construction research, development and innovation (Horizon Europe); Environmental affairs (in particular Green Deal, Renovation Wave, imminent EPBD revision, etc.); Industry 4.0 and digital transformation of the construction industry. Sue is also the President of the European Council for Construction Research, Development and Innovation (ECCREDI).
Ashtead Group
Douglas has been involved in the equipment rental sector for over 14 years, having previously worked in a manufacturing role. He is currently the Managing Director of Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) at Sunbelt Rentals parent company, Ashtead Group plc where is responsible for the on-going development, execution and reporting of the Group’s ESG strategy. Having extensive experience in implementing global strategic risk management disciplines and policy he brings a wealth of knowledge in showcasing the benefits associated with sustainability and the circular economy.
Volvo Construction Equipment
Peter Jordansson is Senior Vice President of Purchasing at Volvo Construction Equipment. As from October 1 2018, Peter Jordansson is part of the Executive Management Team (EMT), reporting to Volvo CE President Melker Jernberg. With more than 20 years of experience in logistics, transport, and purchasing, Peter has worked with some of the biggest names in Sweden including Volvo Group, Scania and most recently steel company SSAB. Peter’s role marks his return to Volvo CE, where in his new position as Senior Vice President, he will promote the needs of the supply chain in the company’s strategic discussions.