A round table held in London this week, sponsored by Amtico and Soprema UK, discovered how the UK construction sector is lagging behind on harnessing circular economy approaches to prioritise whole-life benefits over short term gain, but took lessons from enlightened clients, designers and manufacturers showing the way forward.
Building Insights LIVE, a netMAGmedia brand, 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.
But 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 Homes England and key representatives from industry trade bodies such as the BDA, Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, and Material Index, all of whom are working with partners to support the increased use of recycled and reused materials in projects. 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.
Some of the ‘quick wins’ as well as longer-term solutions recommended will be disseminated in our forthcoming reports on the event in Architects’ Datafile and Housebuilder and Developer, as well as on a short highlights podcast. With renewed momentum for the stalled Part Z as a potential new set of Building Regulations in 2026, alongside the soon-to-be-published Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, solutions-focused events such as Building Insights LIVE are invaluable for looking at the industry’s practical challenges and opportunities in a frank and open way.
From harnessing the social value aspects of building reuse in the context of new build challenges, to looking at how the recycling and reuse markets have matured, and lessons from overseas on incentives, the round table had a host of key insights. Delegates also highlighted the potential of material passports, the impact of golden thread approaches, and how suppliers are managing to successfully progress product ‘takeback’ schemes; in a session that posed a series of challenges to the sector, while being extremely constructive.
Event chair, and editor of Architects’ Datafile and Housebuilder and Developer magazine, James Parker, commented:
“Construction has the biggest waste profile of any sector, and therefore the most to contribute to progressing the circular economy. While our round table proved that the industry has a long way to go, it was an important gathering of like minds looking to drive things forward, for the benefit of the entire value chain. Event sponsors and other supply-side representatives were able to share invaluable insights, such as innovations for not only increasing recycled content but also approaches to reuse which are transforming construction.”
The full list of attendees was as follows:
- Ian Pritchett, Co-Founder, Greencore Homes
- Nikhil Doshi, Director, Hodkinson Consultancy
- Nick Haughton, Brand Director, Sapphire Balconies
- Mike Leonard, Construction & Manufacturing Professor, Birmingham City University
- Pauline Metivier, Head of Business & Sector Support, ReLondon
- Debbie Ward, Circular Economy & Reuse Associate, Alliance for Sustainable Building Products
- Simon Foxell, Owner, The Architects Practice
- Stephanie Palmer, Head of Sustainability, Wienerberger/Brick Development Association/ISEP Circular Economy Steering Group
- Edward Jezeph, Senior Manager, Homes England
- Olivia Daw, Materials Audit Lead, Material Index
- Chris Halligan, Chair of the Climate Society, CIAT
- Michelle Sanchez, Sustainability Lead, RSHP
- Thomas Hesslenberg, Chartered Senior Engineer & Sustainability Consultant, Elliott Wood
Attendees from event sponsors:
- Umendra Singh, Sustainability & Impact Lead, North Europe, Soprema UK
- Gary Wilson, Head of Technical, Amtico
A Building Insights podcast capturing highlights and recommendations from the discussion, will be available at: insights.netmagmedia.co.uk