Summary
The project Building a Circular Future: Accelerating Material Reuse in Construction is led by Professor of Sustainable Architecture Ana Costa and the London based firm Orms Architects, drawing on prior AHRC-funded work. It focuses on promoting the reuse of materials in construction to reduce waste and carbon emissions while enabling a circular economy. Key outcomes included a policy paper and an optimised Operational Material Database (OMD) and associated Materials Passports (MP) that trace the reuse potential of various materials. Funding from the AHRC IAA enabled knowledge exchange events, the dissemination of research, and broader industry engagement, influencing policy and practices. These efforts contribute to achieving net zero targets and transforming construction towards sustainability.
Challenge
Building a Circular Future addresses the growing environmental challenge posed by construction, specifically high levels of material waste generated through demolition. With an estimated 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 already built, the project highlights the urgent need to make better use of existing construction materials.
Demolition not only wastes valuable resources, but also contributes significant carbon emissions, undermining 2030 carbon goals. Promoting material re-use and generating a circular economy market in the construction sector is one of the most energy-efficient solutions to reducing environmental impact, advocating for deconstruction over demolition, and integrating reclaimed materials into supply chains.
This project seeks to increase material longevity by establishing clear and accessible systems, such as the OMD and MP, to provide detailed information about materials in existing buildings. Moreover, it addresses the need for improved policy guidance on material re-use that considers the complexity of integrating re-used materials into new construction projects, and the lack of standardized tools for tracking material identity, lifespan, and value.
Actions
The funding enabled knowledge exchange events, both in-person and online, to disseminate findings to stakeholders such as researchers, architects, and industry leaders. These events promoted OMD/MPs with content shared through various platforms.
IAA funding strengthened the partnership between Dr Ana Costa and Orms, helping to optimise and promote the OMD/MD as a tool for material re-use in construction. This collaboration also led to networking opportunities that advanced the tools' adoption in the architectural community. The funding also supported the dissemination of a policy paper on material re-use, offering recommendations for industry practices and public policy, supported by an in-person launch event and webinar.
IAA funding strengthened the partnership between Dr Ana Costa and Orms, helping to optimise and promote the OMD/MD as a tool for material re-use in construction. This collaboration also led to networking opportunities that advanced the tools' adoption in the architectural community.
The IAA enabled bid writing workshops, as well as promotion of the project through social media, articles, and case studies, which showcased the practical applications of the OMD and MP. Funding supported a series of ‘TEA Talks’ (Technology, the Environment, and the role of Architecture), providing a regular forum for discussing the impact of design on education, including international contributors and case studies from industry and academia.
Results
The OMD and MP tools have been co-developed to meet the practical needs of the construction industry, and the MP Policy Paper is cited in the UK Green Building Alliances’ ' for Material Passports. MPs are being utilised by engineering firm Elliot Wood in the ~£12m King’s Lynn Multi-user Community Hub construction project. The guidance provided is being adopted by Reusefully company to create their deconstruction audits.
Publicity around the policy paper has featured in , , and the . It has been cited in policy guidance from the UK Green Building Alliance and the UK POST Note “”
The project has helped build a framework for more sustainable building practices by providing practical tools for material re-use. These tools have the potential to change industry norms by promoting the consideration of material reuse at the early stages of construction planning and design. TEA Talks have enabled ongoing industry-researcher collaborations, and Costa is currently contributing to the Open Innovation Team’s project for the Office for Product Safety & Standards on safety and incident management in different UK sectors and with the British Standards Institution.
