Due to the current economic conditions and the current economic policy, times are getting tougher for demolition companies. This is likely to be the case, with minor differences, throughout Europe, including in Germany of course.

Fortunately, this time we are not (yet?) in a ruinous price and predatory competition situation which often used to set in reflexively in times of economic weakness. Perhaps the industry has learned a lesson, because the downward price spiral will not lead to anything; there will always be someone somewhere who offers services even cheaper. As demolition companies today are staffed with highly qualified individuals, it is not necessary to fall into old and price ruining patterns. In this context, qualification does not only mean that the actual demolition work is carried out to a high standard, that the waste is separated by type with a high recycling rate, or that the employees are, and will, be qualified for their job. 

It also means being aware that the image of the industry, which is increasingly changing for the better, is being destroyed again by a targeted reduction in the price of the service. Even if we have to invest more effort in order acquisition at the moment, we know that we deliver quality. And this quality has its price. (And if your own company doesn't get the job, you can be sure that your competitor is also a quality company.)  

In recent years, we have steadily improved in terms of the previously mentioned criteria, and this is the only reason why we have achieved the current quality standards. In order to do justice to sustainability, we have to adhere to stricter environmental regulations. The EU Taxonomy Regulation, which introduces a legally binding transition to a circular economy across Europe, brings great opportunities for the demolition industry. This is because it will bring the central importance of the demolition industry for the success of a circular economy even more into the focus of the construction industry, the public and politicians. Without secondary materials from demolition, a circular economy will not be possible.

There are still a few adjustments to be made, and a lot of political improvements still need to be made to ensure that the necessary work in the circular construction economy can be carried out in a legally compliant and economical manner. The construction value chain must work even more closely with the demolition and dismantling industry in the future. We will have to deal with the environment that has already been built, where composite materials and pollutants are major issues that we need to tackle. At the same time, we need to help shape the deconstruction of the future and, in close dialogue with component manufacturers, technical building equipment suppliers, plant engineering and planning, jointly develop products and processes that can be easily deconstructed at the end of their life cycle and returned to the cycle as a whole component or processed building material by our colleagues of the future.

The future potential of the demolition and dismantling industry naturally lies primarily in recycled materials. With our work, we are paving the way for a more resource efficient economy and can comply with the EU's Green Deal, as many of the criteria it requires have long been part of our everyday life and are therefore a great opportunity to promote many of our activities as taxonomy-compliant today. And that is why I believe that the signs have never been better for the European demolition industry.