Dear Sir or Madam, dear readers,

An amendment to the Ersatzbaustoffverordnung (EBV) is on the horizon — but according to the originally communicated timeline of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the process is not expected to be launched until the second half of 2026. From the perspective of our member companies, that is simply too late.

That is why the German Demolition Association (DA) is part of a joint industry initiative and, in a collective letter to Federal Minister Carsten Schneider, is calling for a swift amendment.

Our aim is quite simple: less bureaucracy, greater practicality, and more legal certainty. Specifically, this is about simplifying testing and analysis procedures, clarifying installation conditions, reducing documentation requirements, and ensuring enforcement that actually works — not just on paper.

And because a functioning circular economy only becomes reality when recycled construction materials are truly viable in the market, one issue remains at the very top of our agenda: the “end-of-waste” status. Recycled materials must be legally recognized as products so they can be reliably used and specified in tenders. This is exactly why the DA will actively contribute the practical experience of its member companies during the consultation process.

You can find our detailed position on the issue, as well as the letter to the Federal Minister, in the linked article.

We wish you an enjoyable read.

Your DA Team