There is estimated to be around 15 billion tonnes of construction materials in existing buildings in Germany. These materials represent a huge amount of potential for the circular economy, as they can be largely recycled or reused in future. This is where the concept of circularity comes in, as it aims to promote a change to construction methods that are more sustainable and conserve more resources.
Circularity means using resources and materials in a way that avoids waste and keeps material cycles closed. The aim is to extend the lifecycle of materials through recycling, repair and reuse. Concepts such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "circular economy" and Cradle-to-Cradle design from Braungart & McDonough focus on the continuous use of materials in biological or technical cycles, in order to retain the value of resources for as long as possible and minimise the impact on the environment. When it comes to implementing the Cradle-to-Cradle principle in buildings, Schüco is leading the way with over 70 certified systems. Products and production processes that follow this principle require radical new thinking in terms of product design – from production and the usage phase through to dismantling, processing and reuse as a raw material. Schüco develops products with a low carbon footprint and offers sustainable alternatives based on low-emission raw materials, a higher recycled content and alternative materials.
The construction sector is of key importance to the circular economy, as it uses the most resources and produces the most waste, and can make a significant contribution to reducing emissions and conserving resources by reusing building materials. At an EU level, the following action plans, directives and tools are in place:
The EU Waste Framework Directive (2018/851) aims to strengthen the circular economy by setting recycling quotas, promoting waste prevention and introducing systems for expanded producer responsibility. It supports sustainable waste management through measures for recycling, repair and reuse of waste.
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR, or Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011) harmonises the marketing conditions for construction products in the EU and stipulates a Declaration of Performance and the CE mark for ensuring product safety and environmental friendliness. The 2022 amendment tightened these regulations by adding additional requirements for product safety and environmental and climate protection, and extending the obligations for various industry stakeholders. In addition, digital construction product information is required.
ES mokesčių reglamentas (2020/852) nustato tvaraus verslo kriterijus, įskaitant statybų sektorių, ir skatina investicijas į žiedinės ekonomikos principų taikymą statybų projektuose bei efektyvų išteklių naudojimą.
Concrete legal requirements are implemented at national level. These include:
With regard to transforming the construction sector at a product and system level, the circular economy offers the greatest impact as a sustainable alternative to the traditional, linear economic model (take-make-waste). It focuses on product design that promotes longevity, repair, resource efficiency and minimisation of waste, as well as closing material cycles through recycling.
The integration of circularity into all stages of construction – from planning and building through to use and recycling – represents a significant paradigm change in the construction industry. With Carbon Control, Schüco provides answers to material use and sustainability, the integration of circular principles into product development and the provision of project-specific product data for the lifecycle assessment.
In order to effectively use buildings as raw material reserves for the future, information is required as to where certain components and materials can be found in a building and what impact they have on the environment. A key step towards promoting the circular economy in construction is the introduction of material passports or building resource passports. These documents record detailed information about the materials used in a building and their recycling properties, and support the concept of urban mines at the end of a building's lifecycle.
