Implementing a circular economy to reduce waste and environmental impact in construction

The construction sector uses an incredible amount of physical resources, so it’s no surprise that it also produces a ton of waste. According to a recent study, building our homes, offices, and infrastructure accounts for 30 percent of the natural resources we extract from the earth, and an estimated 30 to 40 percent of global solid waste.

The construction process generates waste at virtually every stage, including the actual construction of a building, ongoing maintenance, and the final demolition of the building, with the latter contributing the largest amount of waste generated. An EPA report found that building demolition accounts for more than 90 percent of the 600 million tons of construction waste generated in the United States each year.

Of that 600 million tons, more than 145 million tons goes directly to landfills. This is problematic because landfill waste releases greenhouse gases into the air and can cause toxic chemicals to leach into local waterways, affecting both wildlife and local residents. Because much of the demolition waste is thrown away rather than recycled, construction companies are caught in a vicious cycle.

One promising way to minimize waste from construction and demolition phases is to establish a circular economy, where construction companies continually recycle and reuse building materials for new purposes and/or in new projects. In the long term, circularity diverts used materials from landfill and gives them new life, reducing the need to constantly extract new and scarce natural resources and manufacture new materials. And in the medium term, it can optimize material use from the outset with digital models embedded in new buildings that provide vital information about demolition. By adopting a circular economy model, construction companies of all sizes can get closer to achieving their sustainability and carbon neutrality goals. So let’s dive deeper.

Why a circular economy?

Although the construction industry has made significant progress in waste recycling, most companies still use a traditional business model that treats natural resources as limitless. In other words, this linear model revolves around the concept of “take-make-discard.”

If we continued with this traditional process of resource consumption, virtually every new construction project would require the extraction of new natural resources and the creation of new building materials. These are two highly energy-intensive processes, both of which historically produce large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, not to mention being expensive. Furthermore, construction companies continually incur significant costs in waste disposal.

Circularity, on the other hand, operates on the premise that natural resources are severely limited and must be conserved. So instead of constantly extracting new resources and creating new materials, construction companies reuse and repurpose resources and materials from structures that would otherwise be demolished and sent to landfill. However, it is also a concept that must be considered when planning and designing structures, so that reuse and recycling of materials are considered from the outset.

All of this not only results in lower carbon emissions, but also significant cost savings for new projects. This makes the circular economy a great win-win from an environmental, social and financial perspective.

Building a circular construction process

It is clear that circularity represents a huge departure from the traditional construction business model. The first step to facilitating this transformation is to adopt a completely different approach in the early stages of a building project. This is the stage where architects and developers decide what materials to use and how the structure will be assembled.

In a circular economy model, buildings are designed to be easily dismantled, ultimately making it easier to extract parts and materials for reuse. While some building components can be reused in the same way they were first used, others can be recreated into different materials or industrial products.

For example, existing fixtures like doors, windows, and appliances can be easily salvaged and moved to new construction sites. Drywall can be broken down and reused as fertilizer, and even concrete can be broken down and reused to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Carbon Upcycling is just one example of many innovative construction technology startups with solutions that can help the industry decarbonize by reusing used materials in new projects or even existing processes.

Architects and developers can also use advanced software tools to assess the environmental impact of a proposed project, as well as the potential for recycling and reusing materials used. These tools make it easier to choose more environmentally friendly building materials and design more sustainable structures. In this way, construction companies can connect with building material companies that offer sustainable alternatives or recycled products.

Another advantage of this approach is that the circular construction process often leads to more durable and long-lasting buildings because it emphasizes high-quality materials, thoughtful design, and sustainable practices. This reduces the need for frequent new construction, resulting in less waste and a more sustainable construction industry. Think of buildings lasting for centuries, not just decades.

Choosing a Recycling Partner

One of the key elements of a circular economy is working with recycling companies that specialize in extending the life cycle of products and materials, instead of relying on traditional and expensive methods that end up with increased levels of waste in landfills. Due to the urgent need for more efficient recycling in waste-intensive areas such as construction, the waste management space has expanded and evolved significantly over the past few years. There are now many companies offering new and innovative ways to recycle and reuse construction waste.

For example, some recycling companies can process rubble and waste into aggregates for production new concrete or cement. Other companies such as Soil connection connect construction professionals through a SaaS marketplace that connects those who want to sell aggregates and soil with those who need to buy them. The point is that there is no shortage of partners who have the means to turn large volumes of waste into recycled resources.

When looking for recycling partners, construction companies should consider working with one of the many startups promoting the circular economy. These companies are agile and eager to leverage their innovations. Compared to more established companies, startups are also less risk-averse and more likely to offer services that no one else has thought of yet.

Given the amount of waste generated by the construction industry, moving to a circular economy model could have a dramatic impact on climate change and the global sustainability movement.

However, there are still very real challenges to adopting circular economy principles in construction. Higher upfront costs than for virgin materials, lack of data and processing and recycling technologies, and insufficient and incomplete regulations are some of the barriers to increasing resource efficiency. However, all of these setbacks are temporary. As new practices emerge, databases of materials and sustainable products improve, and regulations tighten, recycling and reusing construction waste has the potential to become the gold standard in the industry, giving companies a safer, simpler, and more cost-effective way to source and use essential materials.