Launch
06/2026
Duration
36 months
Funder(s)
Horizon Europe
Global budget
5,3 M€
Building Up Industry Loops through Development, evaluation, and testing of an Extended producer Responsibility Scheme for construction products
Challenges
The BUILDERS project (Building Up Industry Loops through Development, evaluation, and testing of an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for construction products) addresses the urgent need for circularity in Europe’s construction sector, one of the most resource- and waste-intensive industries. Current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiatives remain fragmented, limited in scope, and insufficiently aligned with EU circular economy goals.
Objectives
BUILDERS aims to design, test, and validate robust, harmonised, and scalable EPR schemes tailored to specific construction products, thereby closing material loops and fostering systemic circularity. The project will integrate technical, economic, regulatory, digital, and social dimensions to create operational models that incentivise eco-design, reuse, repair, and high-value recycling.
It will deploy pilots across several European regions and product families (flooring, pipes, and sanitary equipment) to test eco-modulated fee structures, digital product passports, and innovative business models. By combining real-world demonstrators with advanced life-cycle (LCA, LCC, S-LCA) and behavioural analyses, BUILDERS will generate empirical evidence of environmental, economic, and social benefits.
The outcomes will include tested EPR schemes, digital traceability tools, and policy recommendations that support cross-border cooperation, SME participation, and harmonised reporting standards. The project will deliver actionable guidelines for regulators and industry, while strengthening customer trust in reused and recycled products.
By bridging policy ambition with practical implementation, BUILDERS will accelerate the transition to a circular single market for construction products, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource use, and contribute to EU climate neutrality, competitiveness, and social equity objectives.
Partners
21 Europeans partners
