Educational Autumn Meeting in Vienna - the city of music!

Europe |

More than 80 people from Eurobitume member companies, invited guests and the Eurobitume team attended our recent two-day meeting in the beautiful city of Vienna, with its history of famous musicians. The meeting began with an informative seminar covering three important topics: circular economy, life cycle assessment and the process of technical standardisations.

The afternoon seminar was entitled ‘Reflections on Circular Economy, Sustainability and how Eurobitume is working for our members on technical standardisations’. It gave attendees an opportunity to increase their understanding of two important industry activities related to life cycle inventories and product standardisation. 

 

 

 

Guest keynote speaker Dr Andreas Pfeiler, from the Austrian Economic Chambers for the Aggregates Sector, opened the seminar with his expert view on energy, circularity, circular economy and CO2 linked to the construction material industry. He also provided his insights into the EU political arena and perspective from Austria.

 

 

 

 This was followed by a presentation explaining Life Cycle Inventories (LCI)s, delivered by Eurobitume’s Senior Technical Advisor Mike Southern. He also launched Eurobitume’s updated LCI report and database, and importantly advised how Eurobitume members can use this report.

 

 

Anja Sörensen, Eurobitume’s focal person for CEN1 (the European Committee for Standardization), then spoke about product standards and the CEN process, and how Eurobitume is involved on behalf of members.

 

 

In the evening, participants gathered to enjoy a Eurobitume Welcome Reception and Dinner in the impressive classic building Gerstner Salons Privés.

At the Extraordinary General Meeting on day two, attendees heard from respective chairs about the on-going and completed work done on behalf of members by our HSE (Health, Safety and Environment), Technical and PRC (Public Relations and Communications) committees. This session also included a specific report and call on members from the Safe Handling Sub Committee (part of the HSE Committee).

There was also an update from the Bitumen Sustainability Steering Group, an overview of next year’s E&E Congress in Madrid and a report by Asphalt Institute President Pete Grass on the continued celebrations of their 100-year anniversary in the United States.

The meeting ended with a closed session for Eurobitume members only, where budgets, finances, membership issues and future meetings were discussed.

1 CEN is an association that brings together the National Standardisation Bodies of 34 European countries