On 11th December 2018 the Second Italian Living Lab took place, organized by RINA in collaboration with ATECAP, the Italian Technical Economic Association for Ready-Mixed Concrete.
In line with the first Living Lab organized last year with the AIB (Industrial Association of Brescia), the second Living Lab has represented a moment of confrontation between the various stakeholders involved in various ways in the recovery of material. The main aim of the Living Lab was to highlight the critical issues and opportunities related to the circular economy, which is now considered indispensable for companies. Different representatives from the cement and concrete industry, recycled aggregate producers and stakeholders involved in the selection of construction products containing recycled materials, such as designers and construction companies, were involved in the event.

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SUMMARY OF RESULTS

The second Living Lab organized as part of the FISSAC project represented a valid opportunity for discussion between the various stakeholders involved in various way along the cement and concrete supply chains.

The opportunities related to material recovery were presented as well as the benefits that this could bring, from the environmental point of view. At the same time, the difficulties faced by producers and users have been discusses, since they sometimes hinder the establishment of the industrial symbiosis processes. In particular, similarly to what was found during the first Italian Living Lab, the participants highlighted an excessive bureaucracy and an unclear authorization framework, which is also subject to different local interpretations.

The consequent mistrust, even by the clients, therefore represents an obstacle for the recovery of material, despite it is now widely validated from the technical point of view; it is worth also noticing that the cement and concrete sectors have been active for years in researching solutions aimed at reducing their environmental impact.

Since the regulatory framework for waste is simpler, the industries are consequently inclined to consider their outputs as waste, rather than by-product or end of waste. The participants therefore hope for a clearer regulatory framework that can provide homogeneous indications and promote material recovery.

The platform that is being developed within the FISSAC project could support companies in the recovery of materials not only facilitating them in the search for opportunities, but also guiding them in the interpretation of the regulatory path. For a profitable development of the FISSAC platform and its effective implementation, synergies with the various realities already active and operating in these sectors can represent a strength point, as well as the promotion of virtuous initiatives such as the Quaderno created by ATECAP-ANPAR, and their protocol of controls.