Circular economy and design for change within the built environment: preparing the transition

Abstract

The built environment is considered as a key sector in which circular economy can be implemented. Within the H2020 project “Building as Material Banks” (BAMB), two innovative solutions are being forward to support this transition: i.e. Materials Passports and Reversible Building Design Protocols. Based on desk research and interviews with frontrunners, key opportunities and barriers have been identified related to the implementation of both innovative solutions within policy, commercial, societal and R&D realms. In order to better understand these opportunities and barriers five emerging trends putting the current socio-technical system under pressure are explained. In addition, value chain and value network analyses of business-as-usual and stateof- the-art practices have been examined over major building phases: conceptualisation & design, construction, usage/operation, demolition/deconstruction & repurposing. We observed that that it is unlikely that an actor will be involved within all phases of the building and that the availability of building (product) information over all building phases is restricted. By supporting the development of Materials Passports and Reversible Building Design Protocols actors involves within the conceptualisation, design and construction stages will better understand why circular and change-supporting building design strategies are necessary. Moreover, the development of Materials Passport IT Platform and a BIM prototype will serve as a proof-of-concept on exchanging information on building products and the building's operation to actors involved within reverse logistics.