Roundtable explores how the construction value chain can drive UK circular-economy growth
Building Insights LIVE brought together trade bodies, specifiers, consultants and manufacturers to share knowledge around growing the use of the circular economy in UK construction projects, to help the industry arrive at practical solutions. As well as navigating challenges around reusing and recycling materials, many of which are endemic in construction sector processes, manufacturers and specifiers have been pursuing LCA, reuse and recycling for many years, particularly in pockets of the UK, as delegates discovered.
The group explored how realistic rolling out truly ‘circular’ solutions was currently to the wider construction industry, including housebuilding, and who would be likely to bear the risks and rewards. The round table agreed that ESG policies still work to incentivise major commercial clients on whole life carbon, but that other sectors may need a more interventionist approach from government, including ‘sticks’ rather than ‘carrots.’
The group included Chris Halligan MCIAT, Chair of CIAT's Climate Society, Homes England and other key representatives from industry trade bodies such as the BDA, Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, and Material Index.
The discussion discovered a layered picture of challenges, issues around defining circularity itself, but also pockets of innovation and success with clients and designers aligning to discover practical approaches to drastically reduce carbon long-term in new build as well as refurbishment contexts.
James Parker, event chair, said:
Construction has the biggest waste profile of any sector, and therefore the most to contribute to progressing the circular economy. This round table brought together like minds to drive practical change across the industry.
