The building materials sector offers a roadmap for future regional executives

UNICEM thus wishes to call on future Regional Councils to include in their roadmap strong commitments to the sector in order to strengthen its levers of action.

The industrial sites of companies that are members of UNICEM, in particular the quarries and ready-mixed concrete production units, are spread over the entire territory, as close as possible to their customers, favoring short circuits by allowing a strong responsiveness, speed of deliveries and immediate adaptation to demand. Located upstream of the construction industry, our companies help maintain and attract industrial activity in the heart of the regions. The price of some of these products, such as aggregates, are very sensitive to the cost of transport, and the proximity of supply is a key element for the competitiveness of companies located downstream of our activity.

In addition, our establishments participate in the creation and maintenance of employment outside towns and cities, thus allowing the preservation, in addition to agricultural activity, of an active population and of dynamic towns and villages in the areas rural. They also finance, through their participation in local taxation, the economy and the development of municipalities.

In order to consolidate the role of our companies in the development of their territories, the Regions, which have levers to support economic development, must support them through tangible and ambitious measures. To do this, UNICEM is seeking future regional councils on four priority themes.

Transportation of materials

• The nearby sites of the sector supply regional construction sites, and the vehicles of companies in the sector must be able to access the heart of urban areas. Aware, in support of the establishment of EPZs, of the need to further limit CO2 emissions linked to transport, we ask for the financial support of the Regions to support our companies in equipping themselves with new equipment and developing the network in alternative energy distribution networks.
• We ask that, if the establishment of a regional ecotax on heavy goods vehicles should be decided, it does not apply to short-distance transport so as not to penalize daily freight transport such as deliveries over the last kilometers. which are not likely to be subject to a modal shift.
  

Respect for the principle of equity between materials in public procurement

In view of their durability, their thermal performance, their ability to integrate solutions combining various materials, concrete or stone, local materials par excellence, are the partners of low-carbon construction solutions.

• We advocate for fair treatment with bio-based materials. It is thanks to complementarity and diversity that we will collectively achieve the objective of carbon neutrality in construction.
• The Regions are the contracting authorities and provide their funding for a number of constructions or maintenance of buildings or infrastructures. We ask that the Regions support companies in our sector as they can support biobased sectors, using the lever of public procurement to encourage the use of local and better-priced materials.
• Regarding support for the building stone industry, we ask that the Regions promote direct ordering by developing an appropriate allotment for materials.

Training

Attracting young people and talents to our sectors is one of our priorities. In fact, the sector recruits 1 employees each year. UNICEM manages three apprenticeship training campuses which welcome 400 young people per year and allow employees to develop their skills while raising their level of qualification by obtaining several CQP dedicated to the activities of companies in the sector. UNICEM expects the essential support from its training structures so that its companies can have high-performance employees who are adapted to their technological developments.

• We would like the Regions to once again support apprentices in their mobility (between the CFA and home, between home and business) and also support them in finding and financing their housing.
• On information and guidance, the Regions must facilitate the connection of young people with CFAs in the region, involve professional branches in guidance campaigns, and open the doors of high schools more to branches and companies so that learning can be presented there.

The circular economy

The sector has extensive experience in the management of inert construction waste and has recognized expertise in favor of a circular economy.

• UNICEM wishes to be systematically integrated, via regional UNICEMs, in the development or revision of the various planning documents: construction waste management plan and regional action plan in favor of the circular economy. It also asks to be associated or consulted during the revision of the SRADDETs.
• The sector is seeking the support of the Regions to support our companies in making innovative investments to improve sorting and thus increase the volumes and quality of recycled materials.
• In terms of the environment, the redevelopment of quarry sites is a real opportunity for the regions. The rehabilitation of an ecosystem that preserves biodiversity must be supported by the Regions. We would like the regional UNICEMs to be associated with the work of the regional biodiversity offices.

“Upstream from the construction sector, the mineral construction materials sector represents a 100% local activity, which extracts, transforms and uses materials in the same economic region. UNICEM asks future regional executives to support, through tangible and ambitious measures, companies in the sector, which strongly contribute to local economic life and are key players in the revitalization of territories ”, declares Alain Boisselon, the president of UNICEM.