29/04/2024 – Constructing in a circular way

The aim of the circular economy is to consider the regenerative capacities of our planet, aspects of human well-being and a circular flow of resources. This allows value to be added and non-reusable waste materials to be avoided. Most economic sectors have begun to implement the concept of this new business model in recent years due to current problems such as resource depletion, climate change and environmental impacts – including the construction sector.

According to the principles of the circular economy a transition must take place from the current linear business model of “take, make and waste” to a circular way of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” where materials remain within a biological and technical cycle. By this model products are shared, leased, reused, repaired, refurbished and recycled for as long as possible. The life cycle of products can be extended and waste is reduced to a minimum.

To achieve this goal in the construction sector means using buildings and structures for the long term, conserving material resources and considering buildings and structures as raw material stores (“urban mining”). On the one hand the preservation, conversion or the reuse of existing buildings and their use as material banks and on the other hand the design and construction of new buildings according to the following criteria in the design and execution phases of the project is important:

• Space efficiency and resource conservation
• Convertibility and flexibility (adaptive floor plans, flexible construction method etc.)
• Selection of materials: sustainable, durable, local, pollutant-free, recyclable.
• Improving the durability of constructions – extending the service life of structural and finishing systems by considering the varying lifespans of building materials and components, including their repairability and replacement options.
• Deconstructability through optimised design of connections, construction elements and building materials.
• Documentation and storage of material information over the entire life cycle of the building (material or building resource passport, BIM, deconstruction concept etc.).

The implementation of these principles aid in identifying built-in materials for future conversions or further reuse, supporting facility management throughout the building’s lifetime. We accompany and support you in the construction process of your buildings and advise you from the project design in order to planning parameters to achieve sustainable and circular construction.

Article written by our department : Sustainable Construction Consultancy