CDW CONFERENCE 2026

Construction and demolition waste is an important resource. Its smart and targeted use helps reduce costs and create new value chains. Purposeful valorisation increases resource efficiency and supports the competitiveness of the sector. However, these materials have so far been used rather modestly as high-quality secondary raw materials.

CDW Conference 2026 focuses on how to expand the use of construction and demolition waste in a reliable and effective way. The conference will discuss solutions that help reduce dependence on primary raw materials. It will also address the role of innovation and the conditions needed for the wider uptake of circular materials.

The conference brings together researchers, policymakers, sector representatives, entrepreneurs and international experts to discuss developments, challenges and solutions in the field.

On 6 May 2026, the international conference will take place at the PROTO Invention Factory in Tallinn. Presentations and discussions will showcase practical examples from the Baltic and Nordic countries on the use of construction materials as secondary raw materials. The programme will also present the results and experiences of the StoPWa project, where construction and demolition waste has been successfully applied following circular economy principles.

International speakers will share experiences from the Nordic and Baltic countries, Germany, Slovenia and Poland. The presentations will address the implementation of the circular economy, construction waste recycling and resource efficiency. Special attention will be given to the role of legislation in reducing barriers, as well as to the skills and knowledge required for the transition to a circular construction sector. The conference will also look to the future. Discussions will focus on how to create a climate-resilient built environment, optimise material use and find new applications for secondary raw materials. In addition, the role of cross-sector cooperation and urban planning will be addressed.

Program:

Panel Discussion: Stormwater Solutions from Construction Waste
This panel presents the results of the StoPWa project and showcases leading practices from the Nordic and Baltic countries in using construction and demolition waste (CDW) as secondary raw materials. The discussion will introduce StoPWa’s innovative multilayer stormwater filters made from CDW, tested in laboratories and full-scale pilot sites in Finland, Estonia, and Latvia.

Panelists: 

• Mika Horttanainen - LUT University, Finland
• Arto Pennanen - City of Lahti, Finland
• Olli Pekka Penttinen - University of Helsinki, Finland
• Sergei Preis - TalTech, Estonia

Details of the following panel discussions will be released soon.

On 7 May 2026, site visits will take place at various locations. Participants will have the opportunity to explore practical solutions and see on site how circular applications of construction and demolition waste are implemented in practice.

REGISTER HERE

The conference is supported by two projects:

• StoPWa project: “Stormwater Treatment Using Construction and Demolition Waste” (Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027, 01.04.2023–31.03.2026). Discover more: https://centralbaltic.eu/project/stopwa/)

• EPICENTRE: LCA Summer School for Professionals (EIT RawMaterilas, Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2026). Register here: https://apply.eitrawmaterials.eu/courses/course/21-epicentre-lca-summers-school-professionals 

StoPWa and EPICENTRE Project: Karin Robam (karin.robam@taltech.ee)
Program and partners: Karin Käär (karin.kaar@taltech.ee)
Technical organization: Anne-Mari Dobrjanski (annemari.dobrjanski@taltech.ee)