‘Green’ is just the first step towards the true sustainability in construction.
Eng. Ivan Mollov, CEO of Raicommerce Construction EAD, and Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva discussed the key challenges to sustainable construction in Bulgaria. Koleva emphasized the importance of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which requires new buildings to have zero fossil fuel emissions by 2028 for public buildings and by 2030 for all other buildings. She also highlighted the need to reduce energy consumption in residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and by 20-22% by 2035, with European funds allocated for these processes.
Eng. Ivan Mollov added that sustainable construction is not just about 'green' technologies, but a complex process that requires strategic planning, clear goals, and resource regeneration. He gave the example of Bulgaria’s water supply and sewerage infrastructure, which needs the replacement of outdated asbestos-cement pipes, but cautioned that this alone does not solve all the problems. For projects to be sustainable, technologies that reduce waste and carbon emissions must be used.
The discussion also covered the issue of wastewater treatment plants, with Eng. Ivan Mollov highlighting their importance in protecting water resources, although they are often overlooked in the National Waste Management Plan. He noted the lack of accurate data on the amount of sludge from these plants, as well as the absence of adequate management technologies. Treatment plants are oversized and cannot function effectively due to demographic changes and migration to large cities. Eng. Ivan Mollov proposed the use of modular and local treatment plants, which are more flexible and sustainable in response to population shifts.
The CEO of Raicommerce Construction EAD also highlighted issues with public procurement, noting that almost 40% of contracts are based on the ‘lowest price’ criterion, which is incompatible with sustainable construction. He called for more substantial incentives to use innovative technologies and recycled materials, as well as a change in procurement evaluation to account for the full lifecycle costs of the project.
The issue of construction waste was also raised, with Eng. Ivan Mollov noting the lack of sufficient landfills for construction waste in many municipalities. Despite progress in recycling construction materials, he stressed the need for more incentives to use recycled materials in the construction process.
Deputy Minister Koleva confirmed the government's commitment to addressing these issues, explaining that the National Waste Management Plan will provide funds for the construction of new landfills and systems for managing construction waste. She also emphasized the importance of the Social Climate Fund, which will support households and micro-enterprises with a €2.5 billion resource from 2026-2032 to facilitate the transition to more sustainable practices.
