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What is circular construction?
Fewer raw materials. Less waste. Less emissions. Less spatial use. The construction sector faces significant challenges to reduce its impact on the environment and climate. But this is possible if we make the shift to circular construction.
Circular construction seeks to use resources efficiently and effectively. The goal is to create or at least maintain economic, social and environmental (added) value . During the construction process, the existing legacy and future opportunities specific to the construction sector are taken into consideration.
To make circular construction, we need to rethink the system and ensure support, with drivers from across the chain.
Check the extended definition
Circular building is a construction practice that seeks to use resources efficiently and effectively to create or at least preserve economic, social and environmental (added) value, taking into account the existing legacy and future opportunities specific to the construction sector. We will do this through intense collaboration within the value network.
This ambition requires the creation of various types of levers: business, governance, legal, logistical, financial, research and training.
Explanation on the use of the term
- The term 'circular construction' is an umbrella term and comprises
- multiple levels (material, element, building and region development),
- multiple life cycle phases (from - avoiding - extraction of raw materials, to reuse of buildings, components, materials)
- multiple actors (producer, designer, contractor, building manager, owner, financier, policy, etc.)
- multiple interactions (transfer of money, information and materials)
- It follows that a circular construction approach goes beyond designing, putting up new buildings and renovating existing ones, but also all supporting processes
- The term 'resources' is used here for raw materials, water, energy and space
- Efficient use of resources refers to the economical and responsible use of often scarce resources
- Effective or efficient use of resources includes avoiding the extraction/tapping of new resources
- In a circular alternative, the entire value network is considered, whereby cooperation is sought between all decision makers in the entire chain.
- Such intense cooperation should lead to the emergence of opportunities for the policy, market and society. This requires the development of various types of levers: business, governance, legal, logistical, financial and research.
Stages in the circular construction process and their levers
How do we make it happen?
How do we make it happen?
The shift to a circular construction economy does not happen overnight. It involves innovation. A complete change of direction. A different perspective on design, the manufacturing industry, services, consumption and business models.
Cooperation within the entire chain is also necessary. That is why Circular Flanders is joining forces with stakeholders in the construction sector to enable and accelerate the transition. This is via the Strategic agenda circular construction
Strategic Agenda circular construction
Strategic Agenda circular construction
The strategic agenda 'circular construction' defines ten work paths that connect the circular ambitions with objectives for climate, energy, quality living, life and work. These work paths have then been translated into around 80 actions undertaken by various companies, network organisations, governments, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations.
The official launch of the strategic agenda took place on 25 April 2022 during the Circular State of the Union. Dozens of organisations are now actively involved. Embuild Flanders and OVAM are the initiators of the strategic agenda. Every year we organise a community day where all stakeholders can meet and an update is given on the various actions.
community event
Community event circular construction
Want to meet the community? Then register for the community event on 25 November.
Together with key players from industry, government, knowledge and social profit, they form the core group. The core group keeps an overview: how effectively are the actions being implemented and are we achieving our ambitions in this regard? The action initiators are responsible for implementation: a group of companies, governments, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations taking steps toward a circular construction sector.
Core group members: Embuild Flanders, Public Waste Agency of Flanders, Buildwise, Belgian Federation of Producers of Construction Materials, Earth, Plant & Fibre, Bouwunie, NAV, Tracimat, COPRO, VVSG, Agency for Facility Operations, Van Roey Group, Kamp C, VUB/VITO, Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship
In addition to the core group members and activists, all businesses, governments, knowledge institutions and other interested organisations together form the Circular Construction Community – and everyone passionate about circular construction is welcome.
Green Deal circular construction
Green Deal circular construction
What happened before the strategic agenda? The Green Deal circular construction set an example. The initiative of Circular Flanders, OVAM and Embuild Flanders accelerated the adoption of circular principles in the construction sector.
Between 2019 and 2022, more than 360 pioneers took up the gauntlet to take action, think and learn together. A commitment made by construction firms and architects, contractors and building clients, knowledge institutions and governments. Their efforts provided the foundation for the action programme of the strategic agenda.
The Living Lab, a multidisciplinary research group within the Green Deal, was already working on levers to remove bottlenecks. After a period of learning, awareness and experimentation, it is time to sharpen ambitions and prepare the construction sector for the future.
Thanks to this four-year process of the Green Deal Circular Construction, we were able to set off from a strong starting position with a broad community in the Strategic Agenda.
Living Lab circular construction
Living Lab circular construction
The living lab is a scientific consortium that makes practical recommendations based on research and experience in the field. Part of the living lab's tasks involves looking to both the past and the future:
Urban mining - Recovering and reusing used materials to reduce the need to extract new raw materials. With urban mining, buildings are selectively demolished and as much of the material as possible is recovered and given new life.
Change-oriented construction and reconstruction - learning lessons from the past and applying them to new construction and renovation. Through change-oriented construction and reconstruction, we take into account the changing needs and desires of users and society starting in the design stage.
The Living Lab Circular Construction was monitored and implemented by VITO, Buildwise, UHasselt and Vrije Universiteit Brussel - with data visualisation support from Peter Stouthuysen. This was commissioned by OVAM and Circular Flanders.