BRUSSELS | 24.10.2018

Sustainability focus of Autumn Meeting Seminar

More than 90 people from Eurobitume member companies, invited organisations and stakeholder guests attended this two-day meeting in Paris, which began with a Seminar on the theme of Sustainability facilitated by the experienced European moderator Alex Taylor.

The scene was set by Tae-Yoon Kim from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Francis Duseux from the French Union of Oil Industries (UFIP) and Damien Valdenaire from Concawe. They emphasised the importance of sustainability for the industry moving forward and highlighted the challenges in introducing meaningful tools, setting targets and interpreting performance.

How the bitumen Industry has interpreted these challenges, and what has been developed as a result, was then summarised by Eurobitume’s Mike Southern and Wim Teugels from Nynas - and a member of Eurobitume’s Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Task Force. They explained Eurobitume’s new LCI, how it can be used and the potential benefits it can offer members. Paul Sohi from the Asphalt Institute in the United States then explained the similarities and differences in the process selected to develop an Industry LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) for the US.

This was followed by an interesting interview and Q&A session about the regulatory environment, with insights about the needs of material suppliers and contractors provided by Carsten Karcher from EAPA and Christine Leroy from Routes de France.

The session concluded with a lively workshop discussion on sustainability messages and communication challenges with a panel comprising of the previous speakers.

The seminar was followed by an informal ‘Meet & Greet Reception’, which gave new and potential members a valuable environment to learn more about Eurobitume and the many benefits and opportunities available to them from existing members and Eurobitume staff.

Afterwards participants enjoyed a cultural cruise and dinner along the River Seine and took the opportunity of acknowledging special guest Aime Xhonneux on his retirement.

Day two of the Autumn meeting was the Extraordinary General Meeting, in which the chairs of Eurobitume’s four main committees – HSE (Health, Safety and Environment), Technical, PRC and Membership – presented updates of the activities from their respective committees.

Eurobitume also officially approved the applications of two additional organisations - Petroineos Services France SAS, which specialises in the marketing of refined products, and SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene) producer LCY Chemical Corporation - to join the expanding Eurobitume family.

Image gallery (click to enlarge)
Pictured left to right: Eurobitume President Christophe Jacquet, Gacem Benazzouz from Petroineos and Eurobitume Director General Siobhan McKelvey.