European industry is entering a decisive phase of its digital transformation. The new Industrial Deal sets an ambitious objective for Europe to be simultaneously competitive, technologically leading, and resilient in terms of the development and implementation of technologies. How this will affect business, investments, and corporate strategies in Bulgaria and the region was discussed by representatives of various companies at the Industry Forward conference, organized by Capital on November 27. Among the participants was Plamena Nenkova, Deputy Executive Director “International Relations and Business Development” at Glavbolgarstroy.

In response to the accelerated changes in the construction sector, the global market for construction waste recycling is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Several factors are driving this trend, including substantial construction activity (both new builds and renovations), shortages of inert construction materials, technological advancements (improvements in separation processes, flotation-based purification, etc.), the introduction of regulations and circular economy targets in the sector, as well as efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of construction activities.

During the panel discussion “Accelerating the Circular Economy and Green Industry,” in which Ms. Nenkova participated, reliable and sustainable approaches were presented that businesses can adopt on their path toward higher competitiveness and stable growth.

“As part of the MOBICCON-PRO project, Glavbolgarstroy operates a mobile construction waste recycling plant in Sofia, which processed more than 55,000 tonnes of inert waste during its first year of operation. With upcoming technical upgrades, we expect volumes to exceed 100,000 tonnes next year,” Ms. Nenkova shared at the event regarding the plant’s operational capacity. She added:

“The key to the project’s success is selective demolition of buildings, which ensures highly separated input material. This material then undergoes processing, purification (through flotation), and fraction separation by different grain sizes. Depending on the volumes we are able to process and place on the market, we could recover the initial investment within a few years.”

Ms. Nenkova also spoke about the project’s future plans, which include testing the installation in a smaller municipality in Bulgaria, followed by deployment in Serbia, in order to demonstrate its effectiveness across different locations and operating conditions.

Among the main topics addressed at the conference were the implications of the Clean Industrial Deal, opportunities to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, and new technologies transforming manufacturing. A key challenge for enterprises remains access to affordable and reliable energy in the context of the green transition, as well as how different sectors are adapting to these changes.

More about the project:

Bulgaria is the first country in the region to have such a facility for processing construction waste. Glavbolgarstroy is making concerted efforts to develop the market for recycled construction materials, aiming to overcome long-standing attitudes and practices within the sector.

Mobiccon-Pro is an international research project funded under the Horizon Europe programme — the largest European public funding programme for research and innovation. The project contributes in practice to the creation of a real market for high-quality recycled construction products. It is developed and implemented by a consortium of 10 European organizations, led by Glavbolgarstroy. Partners include organizations from France, Belgium, Denmark, Bulgaria, and Serbia, among them leading universities, research institutes, technology and industry organizations, and local authorities.