Circular Built Environment
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What is circularity in the Built Environment?
What is circularity in the Built Environment?
The circular economy is based on three principles, driven by design:
Eliminate waste and pollution;
Circulate products and materials (at their highest value);
Regenerate nature.
The circular economy in the built environment sector is an economic model that embraces the whole life cycle of buildings. It values the extension of the life of the existing building stock, advances circulating and recirculating building products and waste streams from other sectors, and promotes long service life of new buildings through spatial planning and design. Circular economy in the built environment sector is a closed-loop system with innovative business models consuming fewer natural resources, generating fewer pollutants and waste and less GHG emissions, and creating at the same time new jobs and local innovative businesses.
Circular Built Environment Thematic Areas
Action to be taken focusing on three thematic areas by promoting supportive legislation and master planning, guidance, knowledge, and capacity building:
1. Efficient use of existing buildings
- extend the operational life of building stock
- avoid new building
- flexible use of vacant spaces
- changes of functions of existing buildings
2. Reuse and recycling of building materials
- reuse building parts
- recycle building materials
- use industrial by-products
3. Promotion of long service life in new construction
- extend the operational life of building stock
- avoid new building
- support material efficiency and life cycle thinking in new construction projects