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52. Implementation and consideration of circularity within international sustainability assessment methodsChristina Giarma, Patrizia Lombardi, Rand Askar, Nika Trubina, Daniela Santana Tovar, Adriana Salles, Hasan Volkan Oral, Rocío Pineda-Martos, Aikaterina Karanafti, Bahar Feizollahbeig, Ricardo Mateus, Sara Torabi Moghadam, Janez Turk, Ruben Paul Borg, Luís Bragança, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The construction sector is a major contributor to environmental degradation, prompting the need for integrating sustainability into its practices. This need has driven the development of sustainability assessment methods across various scales of the built environment. Simultaneously, the recent emphasis on Circular Economy (CE) principles has introduced challenges in translating these principles into measurable outcomes within the construction sector. This study aims to investigate the extent to which circularity principles are embedded within existing sustain- ability assessment methods for new buildings. The study begins by addressing the interrelationships and distinctions between circularity and sustainability concepts, establishing a foundation for the subsequent analysis. Five internationally recognised sustainability assessment methods for new buildings—BREEAM, DGNB, LEED, Level(s), SBTool—were examined to assess their incorporation of circularity aspects. Each component of these methods was scrutinised for alignment with the 10 circularity strategies outlined in the well-established 10-R framework of waste hierarchy. Expert groups, consisting of CircularB COST Action members, independently evaluated the methods and provided opinions on the direct and indirect associations between the assessed components and the 10-R principles. Disagreements were resolved through group discussions. The analysis revealed varying degrees of integration and explicit reference to circularity principles across the assessed methods. The study also highlighted the subjectivity inherent in identifying correlations and the challenges connected to linking certain circularity-related concepts in the built environment—such as resilience and adaptability—with the 10-R strategies. The findings underscore the need for a more in-depth analysis before making direct comparisons of the integration of circularity principles among different sustainability assessment methods, given their methodological differences. The study also identifies directions for future research.
Keywords: circular economy, sustainability, buildings’ Sustainability assessment, 10-R Framework
Published in DiRROS: 18.12.2024; Views: 40; Downloads: 23
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53. Circular economy best practices in the built environmentGenesis Camila Cervantes Puma, Adriana Salles, Janez Turk, Vlatka Rajčić, Magdalena Gómez Puche, Kinga Korniejenko, Themistoklis Tsalkatidis, Vanessa Tavares, Rocío Pineda-Martos, Tatiana Ruchinskaya, Luís Bragança, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: This document serves as the opening chapter of a book that addresses the critical issue of resource depletion in the built environment, illustrating the unsustainable trends in current construction and demolition practices that extensively rely on new raw materials. It highlights the significant impact of the building sector on global resource consumption, energy utilization, and waste generation, with alarming statistics such as buildings accounting for 40% of the world’s extracted materials and a significant source of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Advocating for a transformative shift towards a circular economy in the built environment, the text emphasizes sustainable and regenerative economic practices that minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. This approach necessitates the redesign of systems to ensure the durability, reparability, and recyclability of construction materials, thereby promoting a model where waste is systematically eliminated and materials are continually repurposed. The document also discusses the 10R strategy, which centres on minimizing waste and enhancing resource efficiency, and explores various circular practices within the construction sector. It includes examples from case studies and best practices to demonstrate the viability and advantages of adopting circular economy principles. The challenges and success factors in implementing such practices are thoroughly examined, emphasizing the urgent need for increased awareness, supportive policies, and robust stakeholder collaboration to foster a more sustainable and resource-efficient built environment. The first chapter sets the stage for a detailed exploration of these themes throughout the book’s subsequent sections.
Keywords: circular economy, built environment, sustainable construction, resource efficiency
Published in DiRROS: 18.12.2024; Views: 43; Downloads: 31
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