Reducing dependence on raw material imports and strengthening domestic raw material production - this is what the German Construction Industry Federation (HDB) and the Federal Association of Building Materials - Stone and Earth (bbs) are calling for in the joint position paper "Ensuring security of supply of raw and construction materials and energy - further increasing resource efficiency". The associations fear that without affordable energy and effective streamlining of planning and approval procedures, Germany faces an increasing shortage of mineral raw materials.
"In recent years, we have given too little thought to supply dependencies. This is now taking its toll," says HDB Managing Director Tim-Oliver Müller. It is true that there will probably be enough raw materials for the coming decades. However, in practice, raw material extraction often fails due to high regulatory hurdles and lengthy, delayed approval procedures. bbs Managing Director Dr. Matthias Frederichs even goes one step further. He believes that without domestic raw materials there can no longer be affordable construction.
The associations also call for breaking new ground and, for example, allowing so-called secondary raw materials, which are considered waste from production processes, in public tenders. In addition, they believe that planning and approval procedures must be accelerated. Interested parties can download the full position paper free of charge at bauindustrie.de and baustoffindustrie.de.
Source and further information: bauindustrie.de
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