Building the Future: Chemicals and Innovation in Construction and Electronics 

Amidst the rise of globalisation, construction supply chains have become progressively long and complex – and highly degrative. The industry is responsible for a third of the world’s waste, as much as 40 per cent of global GHG emissions and relies on hazardous chemicals to make materials flame retardant, insulated and water repellent. While e-waste makes up only a part of construction waste, over 60 million tonnes of electronic waste are discarded every year, with only 28 per cent collected, treated and recycled properly. The absence of environmentally sound recycling infrastructure and e-waste legislation globally demands our attention.

This session organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) seeks to highlight the need for accelerated action on construction supply chains, examining the role of global public institutions and funding in working with the private sector to improve design, the availability of material alternatives, pollution-free production, sustainable procurement and circularity in the industry. The discussion will generate new ideas to establish pollution free, nature positive and net-zero supply chains, informing the newly approved Integrated Programme (IP) on “Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Supply Chains” moving forward.

Agenda:

18:15-18:25 Welcome and Opening Remarks

18:25-18:35 Keynote – Building the Future

18:35-19:30 Panel Discussion on:

• Regenerative design
• Material sourcing
• Production
• Procurement
• Post-use collection

19:30-19:40 Q&A

19:40-19:45 Conclusion

Moderator:

Anil Sookdeo – Coordinator for Chemicals and Waste at the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Welcome Remarks:

Thomas Wanner – Managing Director of ISC3.

Panellists:

Anastasia Akhigbe – E-Waste Officer at the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Nigeria. Anastasia is an expert on Extended Producer Responsibility.

Johan Breukelaar – Director General of the European Federation for Construction Chemicals. Johan has over 30 years of experience in chemicals management, formerly working at Shell and Maersk amongst others.

Esteban Cervantes – Technical Advisor at Green Building Council Costa Rica. Esteban has over a decade of experience as an architect using green building practices and is attached to the IP’s Costa Rica project.

Markus Silfverberg – Founder, Chairman and former CEO of Block Solutions Oy. Markus specialises in affordable and sustainable housing, seeking to empower local communities through biocomposite modular design.

Eloise Touni – Technical Lead for UNEP’s GEF Chemicals and Waste Unit. Eloise heads up the Chemicals IP and is working to expand on this in GEF8.