Links, related to resource efficient buildings and construction, circular economy and industrial clusters

Resource Efficiency for the Building Sector

Circular Economy Strategy, Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the Circular Economy

Documents, related to resource efficient buildings and construction, circular economy and industrial clusters

2018, January

The Circularity Gap Report

CIRCLE ECONOMY

The Circularity Gap Report

“Our world economy is only 9.1% circular, leaving a massive ‘Circularity Gap’.”

See more in the document.

 

2017

Cities in the circular economy

ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

Cities in the Circular Economy: an initial exploration

What are the challenges cities are facing in today’s linear economy?

See more in the document.

 

2017

CEO Guide to the Circular Economy

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

CEO Guide to the Circular Economy

“The circular economy is a new way of looking at the relationships between markets, customers and natural resources ”

See more in the document.

 

June 2017

Opportunities for demolishers and wholesalers

ING

Corporate Member Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Circular construction Most opportunities for demolishers and wholesalers

“To achieve circular construction, the entire construction supply chain needs to be involved. For example, architects and owners decide whether to reuse or demolish an old building. Construction suppliers offer bio-based building materials. Smart demolition (dismantling) allows demolishers to offer high-grade used building materials for reuse. Wholesalers can take on the role of resources banks, selling used materials.”

See more in the document.

 

26. 01. 2017

Report on the implementation of the circular economy action plan

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

on the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan

The aim of this report is to present a complete overview of the actions already delivered in the implementation of the EU Action Plan since its adoption in December 2015, and to introduce key deliverables for 2017. Key actions have been undertaken in areas such as food waste, ecodesign, organic fertilisers, guarantees for consumer goods, and innovation and investments. Circular economy principles have also been gradually integrated in industrial best practices, green public procurement, the use of cohesion policy funds, and through new initiatives in the construction and water sectors

See more in the document.

 

20. 01. 2017

Achievng growth within

ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

SUN INSTITUTE

SYSTEMIQ

ACHIEVING ‘GROWTH WITHIN’

A €320-BILLION CIRCULAR ECONOMY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO EUROPE UP TO 2025.

See more in the document.

 

5. 12. 2016

Intelligent assets

 

ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN INDIA: RETHINKING GROWTH FOR LONG-TERM PROSPERITY

By 2050, 60% of India’s population will live in urban areas – up from about 30% today. Urbanisation is happening at an unprecedented pace. Growth is so rapid that 70% of the building stock that will be used in 2030 is yet to be built, and choices made today will determine India’s mid- to longterm development. Applying circular economy principles to developing this vast amount of infrastructure and building stock could create annual benefits of ₹4.9 lakh crore (US$ 76 billion) in 2050, compared with the current development path, together with environmental and social benefits.

See more in the document.

 

October 2016

Intelligent assets

Construction Products Association

The Future for Construction Product Manufacturing
Digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and the Circular Economy

This report seeks to identify the progress made in the construction manufacturing sector in support of Building Information Modelling and digitalisation. Many see the development and deployment of other technologies supporting the success to date as pushing us towards the 4th Industrial Revolution. We hope this report provides clear evidence that manufacturing is doing more than its bit, generating and championing the use of those digital methodologies and helping to put the UK in the lead on the world stage.

See more in the document.

 

September 2016

EU Construction & Demolition Waste protocol

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EU Construction & Demolition Waste protocol

 

This Protocol fits within the Construction 2020 strategy , as well as the Communication on Resource Efficiency Opportunities in the Building Secto . It is also part of the more recent and ambitious Circular Economy Package that the European Commission has presented, which includes revised legislative proposals on waste to stimulate Europe’s transition towards a circular economy to boost global competitiveness, foster sustainable economic growth and generate new jobs. The proposed actions will contribute to reaching the Waste Framework Directive target of 70% of C&D waste being recycled by 2020, closing the loop of product lifecycles through greater recycling and re-use, and bring benefits for both the environment and the economy. And more is currently done at local, regional, national and EU levels.

See more in the document.

 

 

September 2016

Intelligent assets

ARUP

The Circular Economy in the Built Environment

 

“Moving towards a truly circular economy will not be achieved in one step. However, this report represents tangible progress on the journey towards a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient future. Arup is in this for the long haul, because, even if it takes a generational shift to get there, the direction of travel represents a far better future for our shared society.”

Gregory Hodkinson, Global Chairman, Arup

See more in the document.

 

2016

Intelligent assets

Ellen McArthur Foundation

INTELLIGENT ASSETS: UNLOCKING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY POTENTIAL

 

The exponential growth of digital connectivity has had a sweeping impact on our society in the last decade. It is widely understood that this increase in connectivity – and the technological innovation it spurs between people, products and systems – can create significant new sources of value for citizens and economies, whilst also creating new challenges for regulators and policy makers. Understanding and harnessing the potential of this “Fourth Industrial Revolution” for society, the economy and the environment is the theme of the 2016 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. This report on intelligent assets – a key feature of the fourth industrial revolution – and how they can be paired with Circular Economy principles is, consequently, both an important and a timely contribution to the new economics agenda.

See more in the document.

 

2. 6. 2016

Smart Guide to Cluster Policy

European Commission

Guidebook Series

How to support SME Policy from Structural Funds

Smart Guide to Cluster Policy

This guidebook has been produced by the Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs in cooperation with the Smart and Sustainable Growth unit of the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy. It was prepared by Kincsö Izsak (Technopolis Group), Christian Ketels
(Centre for Strategy and Competitiveness, Stockholm School of Economics), Gerd Meier zu Köcker (VDI/VDE-IT GmbH) and Thomas Lämmer-Gamp (VDI/VDE-IT GmbH) as part of the service contract for the European Cluster Observatory under guidance from European Commission officials. However, the views expressed in this document do not necessarily represent the opinion of the European Commission.

See more in the document.

 

30. 5. 2016

Circular economy is one of the 12 priority themes
Circular economy is one of the 12 priority themes

Urban Agenda for the EU
Pact of Amsterdam

The European Union is one of the most urbanised areas in the world. Today, more than 70% of Europe’s citizens lives in an Urban Area1 2. The UN projects that by 2050 this percentage will reach 80%3. The development of Urban Areas will have a major impact on the future sustainable development (economic, environmental, and social) of the European Union and its citizens.

Urban Areas of all sizes can be engines of the economy which boost growth, create jobs for their citizens and enhance the competitiveness of Europe in a globalised economy. At present, 73% of all jobs and 80% of people aged 25-64 with a tertiary education are based in European cities, towns and suburbs. Urban Areas are, however, also places where challenges such as segregation, unemployment, and poverty are concentrated.

Considering the above, Urban Areas play a key role in pursuing the EU 2020 objectives and in solving many of its most pressing challenges, including the current refugee and asylum crisis. Urban Authorities4 play a crucial role in the daily life of all EU citizens. Urban Authorities are often the level of government closest to the citizens. The success of European sustainable urban development is highly important for the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union and the quality of life of its citizens.

See more in the documents:

Urban Agenda

Working Programme

Infographic on the Urban Agenda for the EU

April 2016

Circular economy in the built environment case studies

CIRCULARITY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: CASE STUDIES

A COMPILATION OF CASE STUDIES FROM THE CE100

In the compilation of these studies, the Co.Project wanted to bring to life the ReSOLVE framework for the built environment. The ReSOLVE framework was introduced in Growth Within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe, a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, McKinsey & Co., and SUN. The framework identifies six different ways that organisations and governments can think about applying circularity: Regenerate, Share, Optimise, Loop, Virtualise, and Exchange.

Link to the document

March 2016

EUROCHAMBRES position on the Circular Economy Package

 

EUROCHAMBRES position on the Circular Economy Package

“European businesses are increasingly impacted by the growing scarcity of raw materials and natural resources which are the basis for doing business. Thus, EUROCHAMBRES has repeatedly stressed the importance of achieving a fully functioning circular economy in which waste is promoted as a valuable key resource. However, turning our current linear consumption and production behaviours into circular ones will require profound behavioural changes. Consumers need to make well-informed purchasing decisions and producers require better access to secondary raw materials.”

See more in the document.

 

 

2016

Circular economy in Europe

EEA Highlight | News

2016

Circular economy to have considerable benefits, but
challenges remain

The environmental benefits of adopting a circular economy in Europe could be considerable – reducing waste, and minimising the continent’s heavy dependence on imports of raw materials. A new report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) draws attention to both the benefits and challenges of such an economic transition. The report also describes possible ways to measure progress and highlights the areas where more attention is required from research and policy in order to turn the concept into reality.

See more in the document.

 

 

2016

Circular economy in Europe
Circular economy is one of the 12 priority themes

EEA Report

No 2/2016

Circular economy in Europe

Developing the knowledge base

The European Environment Agency (EEA)’s publication The European environment — State and outlook 2015 highlights ‘stimulating resource-efficient, low-carbon economic and social development’ as essential to achieving the 2050 vision of ‘living well within the limits of the planet’ as set out in the European Union (EU)’s 7th Environment Action Programme.

This requires Europe and the rest of the world to move away from the current linear economic model of take-make-consume-dispose, which relies on large quantities of easily accessible resources and energy, to a circular model in which planetary boundaries are respected through resource conservation and by maximising the use of resources already available within the economy.

The concept of a circular economy has recently gained traction in European policymaking as a positive, solutions-based perspective for achieving economic development within increasing environmental constraints. This is reflected in the 7th Environment Action Programme, which identifies the ‘need for a framework that gives appropriate signals to producers and consumers to promote resource efficiency and the circular economy’. It is also increasingly seen as a business opportunity, for example through the efforts of the Ellen McArthur Foundation. Moreover, European countries increasingly indicate the circular economy as a political priority.

See more in the document.

 

 

December 2015

Identifying macro-objectives for the life cycle environmental performance and resource efficiency of EU buildings

European Commission

JRC Science and Policy reports

Identifying macro-objectives for the life cycle environmental performance and resource efficiency of EU buildings

Working Paper 1
Nicholas Dodd, Shane Donatello, Elena Garbarino, Miguel Gama-Caldas (JRC-IPTS)

The European Commission’s 2014 Communication on Resource Efficiency Opportunities in the Building Sector identified the need for a common EU framework of indicators for the assessment of the environmental performance of buildings. A study to develop this approach is being taken forward during 2015-2017 by DG ENV and DG GROW, with the technical support of DG JRC-IPTS.
This working paper brings together the findings of the first stage in this study, which focusses on the identification of ‘macro-objectives’ for the environmental performance of the EU building stock. This stage is intended to provide an initial ‘top down’ view of what the strategic priorities (the ‘macro-objectives’) should be for the building sector.
In the context of this study, macro objectives encompass not only resource efficiency considerations, but also other significant environmental or functional performance aspects that have an influence on the lifecycle of buildings which should be addressed at EU level. These macro-objectives will in turn inform and set the scope for the identification of a common framework of indicators in the next stage of this study.

See more in the document.

 

2 December 2015

Identifying macro-objectives for the life cycle environmental performance and resource efficiency of EU buildings

Related information

Towards a circular economy

Helping European businesses and consumers make the transition to a stronger and more circular economy where resources are used in a more sustainable way

European Commission

Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the Circular Economy

 

In volume terms, construction and demolition are among the biggest sources of waste in Europe. Many of the materials are recyclable or can be reused, but reuse and recycling rates vary widely across the EU. The construction sector also plays a role in the environmental performance of buildings and infrastructure throughout their life.
The recycling of construction and demolition waste is encouraged by an EU-wide mandatory target, but challenges on the ground still have to be addressed if waste management in this sector is to improve. For example, valuable materials are not always identified, collected separately, or adequately recovered. The Commission will develop targeted guidelines for use on demolition sites for that purpose, including on the treatment of hazardous waste, and is promoting sorting systems for construction and demolition waste in the revised proposals on waste. It will help to spread best practices by developing voluntary recycling protocols based on the highest common standards for each waste stream. The Commission is also currently conducting a study to identify the obstacles to, and drivers for, the recycling of construction and demolition waste, and best practices in this area.
Given the long lifetime of buildings, it is essential to encourage design improvements that will reduce their environmental impacts and increase the durability and recyclability of their components. The Commission will develop indicators to assess environmental performance throughout the lifecycle of a building, and promote their use for building projects through large demonstration projects and guidance on GPP.

– The Commission will take a series of actions to ensure recovery of valuable resources and adequate waste management in the construction and demolition sector, and to facilitate assessment of the environmental performance of buildings.

See more in the document closing-the-loop-an-eu-action-plan-for-the-circular-economy

Find the document in your language.

Factsheets on the circular economy

 

November 2015

TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY - BUSINESS RATIONALE FOR AN ACCELERATED TRANSITION

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY: BUSINESS RATIONALE FOR AN ACCELERATED TRANSITION

 

SECTION 1: DRIVERS FOR CHANGE AND A NEW ECONOMIC MODEL

SECTION 2: RETHINKING VALUE CREATION – THE CIRCULAR PERSPECTIVE

SECTION 3: THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY OPPORTUNITY

SECTION 4: MAINSTREAMING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

APPENDIX: THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN PRACTICE – BUSINESS CASE STUDIES AND POLICY EXAMPLES

See more in the document.

 

20. 5. 2015

Framework conditions to support emerging industries and clusters in the area of circular economy

European Cluster Observatory

Case Study

Framework conditions to support emerging industries and clusters in the area of circular economy From recycling to product-service systems

Larissa Talmon-Gross, Michal Miedzinski, Technopolis Group

This case study aims at analysing the characteristics of favourable innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems for the development of emerging industries and clusters in the area of circular economy.

Circular economy is “an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design. It replaces the end-of-life concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals, which impair reuse, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems, and, within this, business models” (Ellen McArthur Foundation 2012).

The focus of the case study is to inquire the importance of selected circular economy activities in clusters and other emerging forms of industrial collaboration, including the role of framework conditions for the uptake of a circular economy model. The report will focus on selected activities associated with the circular economy model, notably sustainable design, repair and maintenance, re-use, remanufacturing, recycling as well as the emergence of business models enabling circular and efficient use of natural resources such as product sharing or leasing.

In this report clusters are understood as being “geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialised suppliers, service providers, firms in related industries, and associated institutions in particular fields that compete but also cooperate” (Porter, 1998). A clear distinction is made between‘clusters’ as the phenomenon and ‘cluster initiatives’ or ‘cluster organisations’ that represent deliberate, often politically driven, endeavours to support national and regional strongholds.

See more in the document.

 

March 2015

Resource efficiency in the building sector

European Cluster Observatory

REPORT

European Cluster Trends

 

This preliminary report presents the results of the analysis that attempted to identify trends in industrial and cluster dynamics and paid particular attention to cross-sectoral links and internationalisation trends. All of this work has been conducted within the framework of the European Cluster Observatory.
The objective of the study was to identify and analyse trends in where and how clusters of related industries are transforming themselves and where new specialisation patterns give rise to the renewal, or the development, of emerging industries. The research aims to support policy-makers, cluster prac-titioners and companies to identify transformation trends at an early stage and to facilitate further poli-cy efforts in this respect. It is intended to contribute to an improvement in the implementation of re-gional smart specialisation strategies and it should also help European regions identify areas of col-laboration where industrial trends cut across not only sectors, but also, geographical borders.

european-cluster-trends_en

 

December 2014

Circular construction

ABN AMRO

AUTHORS:

Circle Economy

Sanderine van Odijk

Floor van Bovene

Circular Construction

 

December 2014

“THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

As an entrepreneur in the Construction and demolition sector, you can get started on circularity tomorrow.

• Save (materials) costs through the use of prefab, instead of in-situ construction.

• Develop experience with circular construction materials and methods.

• Explore the options and advantages of the resources passport.

• Invest in your network, work together within the chain and make circular choices.

• Specialise and increase your knowledge of modelling tools and digital platforms.

• Anticipate shifting ownership of materials, components and technologies.

• Offer integrated contracts that include the costs and environmental impact for the entire lifecycle.

• Talk to a bank that thinks about circular construction and the forms of financing that go along with it.”

See more in the document.

 

23. 5. 2014

Resource efficiency in the building sector

ECORYS

COPENHAGEN RESOURCE INSTITUTE

Resource efficiency in the building sector

Final report

Client: DG Environment

Rotterdam, 23 May 2014

This report documents the evidence base developed to support the preparation of the European Commission’s planned Sustainable Buildings Communication.
The Communication will provide strategic direction for developing a more sustainable buildings sector. This report uses a life cycle approach to the analysis of the current and future sustainability of the building sector. It provides a concrete basis for the problem formulation and objectives of the Communication, explores the scope of relevant existing policy and initiatives in the area of buildings and construction, identifies potential areas ripe for policy intervention, and describes the processes and outcomes of the public consultation on the selected policy options. The policy solutions and environmental and resource analysis in this report and the Sustainable Buildings Communication address the lifecycle environmental impacts of buildings, to complement existing initiatives related to energy consumption during the use phase of the building.
The assessment of the environmental performance of buildings was considered as a practical, achievable and viable avenue to pursue that would both facilitate the improvement of building sustainability and address existing market barriers to enhance business opportunity within the sustainable buildings industry.
This report was prepared for the European Commission by experts of Copenhagen Resource Institute, Ecorys and Triple E Consulting.

See more in the document.

 

January  2014

Accelerating the scale-up across global supply chains

World Economic Forum

Towards the Circular Economy: Accelerating the scale-up across global supply chains

Prepared in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey & Company

Business leaders, consumers and governments alike have discovered that continued wealth generation requires a new industrial model that is less dependent on primary energy and materials inputs, and ultimately able to regenerate our natural capital. In its recent reports, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has focused on the economic and business
benefits of such a circular model of growth.
In this report, the World Economic Forum and the Foundation, with analytics provided by McKinsey & Company, acting as
project adviser, joined forces to reconcile the concept of scaling a circular economy within the reality of a global
economy and complex multi-tier supply chains. The key objective is to propose a very specific joint plan of action for
industry leaders.

See more in the document.

 

Design for deconstruction
Demolition of Buildings
Circular Economy Thinking in Construction: A view from UK Manufacturers
Circular economy in the built environment
Design with the CE approach and case studies
Building resiliency
Co-funded by the COSME programme of the European Union

ECCA project is co-funded by the COSME programme of the European Union in the frame of "Clusters go International" call for the project proposals.

The main objective of the action is to intensify cluster and business network collaboration across borders and sectoral boundaries and to support the establishment of European Strategic Cluster Partnership to lead international cluster cooperation in fields of strategic interest – notably in support of the development of emerging industries.

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