A circular economy is a system that allows the added value in products to be kept for as long as possible and in which waste is eliminated.
When a product has reached the end of its life, the resource is kept within the economy, so that the product or component is used multiple times and, consequently, provides ongoing value. This is predicated on the circular (closed) flow of materials and the use of raw materials and energy through multiple phases.
The concept of a circular economy has its roots in several different schools of thought and theories that challenge the prevailing economic system based on overconsumption of natural resources. In recent years the circular economy has received increasing worldwide attention due to the growing recognition that the security of supply of resources and resource efficiency are crucial for the prosperity of economies and businesses. The concept has been taken up by a number of governmentsand businesses around the world who collectively consider the circular economy as a solution for harmonising the apparently conflicting objectives of economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Growing international research and evidence shows numerous benefits over the traditional linear economy. These include; i) long-term cost savings, ii) increased local job opportunities, iii) encouragement of technical innovation, iv) reducing the amount of waste produced, and v) reversing our impacts on climate change. When a product’s component materials are reused rather than entering landfill, not only is that material no longer waste but also new raw materials are not required to be extracted (or grown).
Undoubtedly one of the key industries that can benefit maximally from the development of new eco-technologies and circular economy is the building and construction industry. Choosing materials that have a high recycled content generally results in a building that has a lower embodied carbon footprint. Another effective way of reducing the embodied carbon in a building is to specify reused materials, as these will usually have only a small energy and carbon impact (mainly from transportation) after their first life.
The production of timber requires significantly less energy than other, more carbon-intensive building materials such as concrete and steel. In many instances timber is capable of replacing these materials in a variety of building applications, and can also help to increase the impact and resulting benefits of the circular economy in the construction sector.
The reusability of recoverable building materials is affected by environmental, design and construction as well as operation and management factors. The specification of reusable building materials during the building design and construction phase is a major factor that determines the level of reusability of recoverable materials at the end-of-life of a building. Other factors that influence the reusability of recoverable materials include the use of screws or bolted joints instead of nails and glueing, hence the ability to more easily deconstruct buildings, and the wider use of
prefabricated assemblies.
For wood to be used in a circular way, evaluating the presence of chemicals in waste products is critical as they may re-enter the life cycle of the new recycled product along with the targeted material – so-called ‘risk-cycling’. Accordingly, achieving a clean and safe circular economy relies on the development and implementation of appropriate methods to monitor levels of impurities in the waste, identify contaminated waste flows and separate them
before recycling.
Employing materials that are highly recyclable and that can be maintained to prolong their life implies a change in perspective in both the (building) design process and business strategies. Shifting from linear economy to circular economy thinking clearly requires innovative production technologies, but it also creates room for new, profitable business models.
Ultimately, our current linear economic system is looking increasingly obsolete on a planet with finite resources, a growing population and increasing environmental issues. It’s time for change. At Planet Ark, we believe a circular economy matching nature’s own cyclical tendencies represents the best alternative model.
*Copy supplied by Planet Ark
