Moving towards a circular economy

Oliver Cripps, Head of Sustainability at Etex, explores what the UK can learn from the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan. 

It’s no secret that the construction sector is one of the largest consumers of raw materials in the UK. If we are to move towards a more circular economy, this has to change. We must look at Scope 3 emissions – the indirect emissions that occur in the upstream and downstream activities of an organisation. These are the trickiest to manage because they come from a variety of sources, such as the production and transportation of materials and waste disposal. Considering the impact of your suppliers – as well as yourselves and your clients – is critical.  

 The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) covers several policy areas that would support the industry in creating systemic change and could be a valuable resource to those pushing for change – whether in the EU or not. By considering how we tackle waste-to-landfill and protect natural resources by reuse, and recycling, we will be able to make a difference.  

Adopt CEAP principles 

In the UK, architects have often been the drivers of circularity and sustainable material use, with reputations skyrocketing among firms that push the boundaries of innovation. However, the wider construction industry is behind the curve. We need an industry-wide plan that has enough breadth and ambition to inspire the whole supply chain.  

This is why the UK could take inspiration from the CEAP. It provides a holistic view of the circular economy by discussing strategies and methods of building such as modular construction, urban mining, and lean design – ensuring that materials remain in the loop longer and making buildings more future-proof. The CEAP shows it is possible to bring together different aspects of sustainable thinking – material ingredients, issues around microplastics, reuse and refurbishment policies – in one place. Perhaps the biggest lesson the UK can take from CEAP is early adoption. The EU has laid down this guidance earlier than any other region, which will mean it will be implemented with more speed, at a larger scale. While many in the UK are making moves towards more sustainable methods of material use, we are often guilty of operating in siloes. To close the loop and create a true circular economy, we must be engaged from site to C-Suite. 

Think beyond immediate emissions  

To move beyond simply considering reducing waste and, instead, making an impact on the sector’s overarching carbon emissions, we need to look at every phase of construction and every building element.  

The CEAP aims to increase the consideration of Scope 3 emissions via two key routes: designing  sustainable products and considering the lifetime of said products. It starts with manufacturers and their suppliers, but reaches through to the designer and main contractor, and then onto the end client, building operator and beyond.  

As an example, one of the main components used in the manufacture of plasterboard is gypsum. Gypsum itself is infinitely recyclable, but to recycle it, it needs to be collected and processed, not sent to landfill. This requires input from those on site, as well as manufacturers, to separate and collect gypsum waste before reusing the post-consumer gypsum to recycle into a brand-new building material. By doing so, we could drastically reduce our consumption of natural virgin resources. If we were all to adopt this mindset and invest the time and resource required, the industry could significantly decrease our usage of raw materials and switch to a model wherein lifetime carbon cost is considered.  

Cost, time and quality have always been markers of any successful construction project. However, moving ahead, sustainability must become one of those core metrics. We have the tools, aspirations and knowledge to do better. So, while challenges lay ahead, we should see this as an opportunity to set a new standard of thinking, designing and building. 

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