27 June 2022, Berlin – 2022 Tiles and Bricks Europe (TBE) Congress hosted by Bundesverband de Deutschen Ziegelindustrie e.V on 23-24 June in Berlin, Germany.
For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in the last two TBE Annual Congress to take place online, around 100 TBE members, executives from the tiles and bricks industry, national associations from all over Europe gathered in person for a 2-day Congress to discuss important information and key updates pertaining to the tiles and bricks industry at European level.
The Congress opened on Thursday 23 June with a presentation on the LIFE Superhero Project - Permeable and Ventilated Roofs: An Emerging Solution for Building Comfort and Climate mitigation in Urban Centres and the Joint Meeting to discuss, Product Group Roofing Tiles, Product Group Masonry and Technical & Environmental WG took place. In the afternoon, the TBE Executive Committee was held where administrative matters, priorities and challenges in the upcoming period and mid- and long-term topics were discussed.
Following the meetings TBE members were welcome to take part in the cultural programme by Bundesverband de Deutschen Ziegelindustrie e.V which ended with a gala dinner in the evening.
On the final day of the Congress the 2022 International Brick and Roof Tile Conference on the ‘Green Deal and Decarbonisation of the Brick and Roof Tile Industry’ took place. Following the formal welcome by TBE President, Miroslaw Jaroszewicz a keynote speech on ‘Germany’s way to become Climate Neutral by 2045 in European Context’ was given by Malte Bornkamm, Head of Division - Market framework for decarbonisation of Industry, international cooperation at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs & Climate Action. After the speech, Mr. Bornkamm joined a panel with Holger Lösch, Deputy Director General, Federation of German Industry, Viviane Raddatz, Head Climate and Energy, WWF Deutschland and Dr. Heimo Scheuch, CEO, Wienerberger AG where an interesting and fruitful discussion took place. Among the topics discussed was the impact of the current energy crisis and war in Ukraine and the consequences it may have on the decarbonisation process of the bricks and roof tiles industry.
The Congress closed with a presentation from the sponsors and the TBE General Assembly. During the General Assembly discussions surrounded the successes of the past year and the priorities and challenges of specific dossiers in the upcoming period. These included climate and energy dossiers, namely the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), the European Green Deal and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Furthermore, the renovation wave, ceramic BREF, the revision of CPR, the New European Bauhaus, and the Campaign for a fair competition on sustainability parameters in construction are also presented as upcoming priorities. Finally, the financial reports to closed off the General Assembly.
Thank you to the TBE Members that attended the Congress. Next year the TBE Congress will be held on 1-2 June 2023 in Spain.
