Martin Hitchin, Chief Executive, Rehau

Professor Noble Francis, Economic Director, CPA

In this presentation, our speaker Professor Noble Francis will present on the current state of the construction market, as well as his view on future trends. He will also explore the specific role of the plastics sector.

David Hughes, Head of Product Performance in the Construction Products Division, UK Gov MHCLG

In this seminar, our speaker will explore regulations in construction, looking at current regulations in the UK that will affect the plastics in construction sector. Our speaker will look at what these regulation are, how they wil impact the industry and what future regulations are coming. 

Biography

David is the Head of Product Performance in the Construction Products Division and joined the team in May 2023. Prior to that David was the Head of Office for the department’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), responsible for leading the CSA’s office. A policy professional by background, David has worked in several government departments including the Home Office and DCMS, leading on policy and legislation including on gambling, equalities and the planning system. David has worked in construction products previously, having been the policy lead for the Construction Products EU exit legislation, as part of preparations for the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Jean-Pierre Taverne, Sustainability Manager, TEPPFA

In this session our speaker Jean-Pierre Taverne from TEPPFA will provide a valuable insight into regulation for the european construction sector and how it will affect UK industry. He will focus on CPR-2024 (Construction Products Regulation).

Biography

Jean-Pierre Taverne is a sustainability and EU public affairs expert with over 30 years of experience in European trade associations, spanning the steel for packaging, tyre and rubber, and plastic pipes sectors. He combines in-depth knowledge of EU environmental, product and chemicals legislation with hands-on experience in lifecycle assessment, circular economy policy and standardisation.
Jean-Pierre began his career at APEAL (now Steel for Packaging Europe) in 1994, where he held different positions until becoming Senior Manager Technical and Environmental Affairs.

From 2010 to 2019, he worked at ETRMA (now Tyres Europe) as Senior Manager, End-of-Life Tyres and Environment.
Since June 2022, Jean-Pierre has been Sustainability Manager at TEPPFA (The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association). In this capacity, he coordinates sustainability and water resilience activities, and leads on topics such as the Construction Products Regulation, Taxonomy, REACH, LCAs and environmental standardisation.

Jean-Pierre holds a Master’s Degree in Business Engineering from ICHEC Brussels Management School, with a special qualification in Environmental Law and Technology.
 

Nicki Hunt Davidson, Industrial Issues Executive and Owen Mace, Pipes Group Director, BPF

In this section the BPF's two speakers will briefly talk about the work of the BPF for our members and the plastics industry within the construction sector. They will talk about the BPF's projects, advocacy and where we can help the industry.

Biography

Owen Mace is Director of the British Plastics Federation (BPF) Plastic Pipes Group, the trade association of the UK plastic pipe systems industry.

He has an engineering background with a BSc in Sustainable Energy and Innovation and a BTEC HND in Manufacturing Engineering and Management. Owen chairs the UK National Standard Body (BSI) committee on plastic pipes systems (PRI/88).   

Owen has significant experience of the UK construction product market, having worked in product management in both the HVAC and bathroom manufacturing sectors, portfolios including innovative sustainable products.

He has previously worked for BSI, starting out as laboratory test engineer, and more recently as a certification manager, responsible for pipe system and appliance certification schemes.

Mark Gajda, Head of Technical Services and Certification Manager, Rehau

In this session Mark Gadja from Rehau will provide the audience with a case study of Rehau's work. Providing an overview of their work in recycling and sustainability within the construction sector.

Biography

Mark Gadja is the Head of Technical Services and Certification Manager for REHAU Ltd
 
Mark has an extensive career within REHAU Ltd having joined as a Design Engineer before taking up various positions including Supplier Quality Manager, Head of Quality and currently Head of Technical Services and Certification Manager
 
His career path includes experience in working across multiply sectors of industry with influence within the Fenestration, Legislation and Compliance fields including QMS, Manufacture and Sustainability 
 
He currently has committee and federation positions held at the following organisations:
 
Fenestration Board Member and Chair of Systems Houses GGF, Member of Fenestration Industry Consultation Response Group, BSI Standards Committee Member, Member of the BPF Windows Group
 

Danielle Purkiss, UCL

In this session Danielle Purkiss will provide an overview of the Engineering Plastics Hub. He will also cover the opportunities of AI for the industry

Biography

Danielle is an architect and materials researcher working in the fields of circular economy design, systems thinking, and citizen science. She leads research and development at the UCL Waste Innovation Hub and Institute of Making, and teaches about circular economy design in the UK and internationally.

Dr Jane Anderson, Founder, ConstructionLCA

In this session Dr Jane Anderson will explore Life Cycle Analysis for the construction industry as well as exploring EPDs, RICS, WLCA and beyond.

Biography

Jane Anderson is a leading expert on embodied carbon and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in the construction sector, and works as a verifier for a number of EPD programmes internationally.  She is involved in sustainable construction standardisation efforts at product and building level internationally for the UK and has recently completed a PhD considering the role of EPD in embodied carbon reduction. She was part of the authorship team for the second edition of the RICS 'Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment' and is a member of the Technical Steering Group for the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.