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The second wave of Covid-19 is spreading across Europe. More than ever, it looks as if uncertainty is the “new normal”.
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Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry is no simple task. Situations change every day and one-month old prevailing market conditions may prove already outdated. Back in September, I was interviewed by GlassWorldwide on this topic and the responses I could provide by then were based on trends observed in Summer. While this input to the interview may no longer hold true, I invite you to read the article as it also touches upon the areas and need for cooperation and joint actions to support the industry. Whatever the impact, we must work to get the flat glass industry out of this crisis faster and stronger!
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Secretary General, Glass for Europe
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Prevailing flat glass market conditions and future prospects
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Bertrand Cazes answers to GlassWorldwide
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With the economy hit hard due to the covid-19 pandemic, what was the impact on the flat glass industry?
The flat glass industry was no exception and in fact, was probably among the industrial sectors hit the hardest....
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Special focus on
The Renovation Wave
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On October 14, the European Commission published its Renovation Wave, a Strategic Communication aiming at doubling renovation rates in ten years and delivering higher energy efficiency in buildings. “We hope this Renovation wave will have a butterfly effect and trigger a ripple effect for an unprecedented transformation of our buildings”, says Bertrand Cazes in a video statement published in reaction to the release of the Communication.
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The European Commission acknowledges the crucial role of buildings to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050 and to drive a fast recovery from the COVID19 crisis. It identifies the right challenges and sketches out possible actions to lift existing barriers be they of financial, technical or regulatory nature. However, it will take more than an assessment and new calls for actions to accelerate energy renovations in the EU. Time has come to form of a coalition of the willing all across Europe to make things happen!
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The Renovation wave in a nutshell
- The Renovation Wave aims to at least doubling the annual energy renovation rate of residential and non-residential buildings by 2030. However, this is not made a mandatory target and some of the numbers provided by the Communication (35 million building units) suggest that the doubling of the renovation rate may not be reached before 2030.
- The Renovation Wave aims to reduce by 60% CO2 emissions from buildings by 2030. It acknowledges the co-benefits of renovation such as economic stimulus, jobs, energy independence, comfort and well-being, fight against energy poverty, etc. This excellent narrative of the European Commission needs to be rolled out across countries.
- The Renovation Wave foresees the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) to extend the renovation requirements of public buildings to all administration levels. Today, the EED sets a 3% annual renovation target for public buildings owned and occupied by central government only and this needs to change for a wider scope.
- The Renovation Wave foresees a targeted revision of the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) to introduce mandatory minimum energy performance standards and review the EPC framework (EPC - Energy Performance Certificates). Both directions are supported by Glass for Europe that will work to make sure these ideas come with enough substance to have any meaningful impact.
- The Renovation Wave passes in review all existing funds that could potentially be activated for building renovation without ring-fencing any specific proportion. Unfortunately, a specific fund for building renovation is not proposed. However, 37% of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF) shall be dedicated to climate change among which actions on building renovation would fall. It is therefore essential to advocate in the Member States for a large portion of the RFF fund to be dedicated to this purpose.
- The Renovation Wave confirms that the European Commission wishes to address the sustainability performance of construction products in the context of the revision of the Construction Product Regulation (CPR).
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Video statement
The Renovation wave should trigger a ripple effect
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Renovation wave - Social media communication campaign
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Renovation wave - Recording of European Commission vice-president for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans during RenovateEuropeDay 2020.
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On 27 October, just a few days after the release of the Renovation Wave communication, the European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans addressed the Renovate Europe Day 2020. On this occasion, Frans Timmermans confirmed that now is the construction industry’s moment to make it happen with a clear plea "Don’t squander it!" Along with other Renovate Europe partners, Glass for Europe takes this call seriously: we must intensify efforts all over Europe to be successful in renovating Europe’s buildings.
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Flat glass's considerations on a future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
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The European Commission announced its intention to propose by mid-2021 a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) for a few sectors, as a pilot phase. Glass for Europe recognizes CBAM as a possible route to ensure a level playing field between EU and non-EU based manufacturers when guaranteeing that importers of industrial goods bear carbon costs equivalent to those of EU-based …
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Soda-lime silicate glass now benefits from its own CAS number
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Since August 2020, a specific CAS number for soda-lime silicate glass has been created in the CAS registry. The new CAS number is 2446523-50-6 and its full CA index name is: Aluminum calcium magnesium silicon sodium oxide (Al 0-0.03 Ca 0.06-0.11 Mg 0-0.07 Si 0.56-0.74 Na 0.21-0.23 O 1.46-1.63), where the values correspond to atomic percentage with O expressed on …
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Video statement
Glass for Europe's reaction to 2030 climate target plan
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Yesterday, 17 September 2020, the European Commission released its plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to put the EU on a path to become climate neutral by 2050. In a video statement published in reaction to the climate plan, Bertrand Cazes, Secretary General of Glass for Europe, calls for concrete actions …
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Reinforcing the single market and driving sustainability in construction
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The European flat glass industry has always been a strong supporter of the harmonisation of the single market for construction products. Glass for Europe believes that by improving its functioning and effectiveness....
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Web conference with Glass and Glazing national associations
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On 12 October, the traditional meeting between Glass for Europe and national glass and glazing associations was held for the first time in the format of a web conference. Attendees connected from all over Europe discussed the Covid19 crisis and its impact on the sector, the EU and national Recovery plans, the upcoming Renovation Wave and support schemes for windows …
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Glass for Europe at Glasstec VIRTUAL for the Glass Associations Summit
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Today, Glass for Europe is virtually in Dusseldorf for the “The Glass Associations Summit”, an event hosted by GlassWorldwide as part of the 2020 edition of GlassTec, the leading trade fair for the global glass industry. Luca Oggianu, Advocacy and Communication Advisor at Glass for Europe, joined colleagues from AIGMF (India sub-continent), BV Glas (Germany), Chinese Ceramic Society (China) and …
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Glass for Europe at 2020 World Soda Ash Conference
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Yesterday, 20 October, Glass for Europe participated in the 2020 World Soda Ash (WSA) Conference, the must-attend event of the year for the Soda Ash Industry. Soda ash is a key raw material and is used as an additive in the flat glass making process to reduce the melting temperature of the sand used. Cedric Janssens, Public Affairs manager of …
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