The construction industry is one of the largest sectors in Europe, employing 15% of all workers in the EU and generating 10% of turnover. However, it also has a significant environmental footprint, consuming 50% of raw materials, 40% of energy, and producing over 35% of total EU waste. As climate change and resource scarcity become urgent global challenges, the construction sector must shift toward more sustainable practices. One promising solution is adopting the principles of the Circular Economy (CE), which aims to keep materials in use for as long as possible, minimising waste and environmental harm.
The Circular Economy in Construction
Currently, the construction and demolition sectors account for about a third of the total waste generated in the EU. A large portion of this waste ends up in landfills, causing long-term environmental damage, especially during a building’s operation and end-of-life stages. This issue will only intensify as the global middle class grows, increasing demand for buildings and construction materials. Additionally, the rising cost of raw materials is pushing the construction industry to explore alternative solutions, such as reusing and recycling existing materials.
In response, the European Commission has launched the Renovation Wave for Europe, which aims to double the rate of building renovations by 2030, targeting 35 million renovated building units. This ambitious plan focuses on improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and promoting sustainability in both residential and non-residential buildings. A key component of this strategy is the adoption of circular economy principles that promote resource efficiency and waste reduction throughout the entire lifecycle of buildings.
Urban Mining: A Key Strategy for Sustainable Construction
One of the most innovative approaches within the circular economy is Urban Mining. This concept refers to the extraction of raw materials, such as metals and minerals, from construction and demolition waste (CDW), rather than from traditional mining operations. By viewing cities and urban areas as “virtual mines,” Urban Mining offers a sustainable solution for sourcing valuable materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste.
Urban Mining not only reduces the demand for newly mined materials, which are finite and often environmentally damaging to extract, but also helps recover scarce materials like rare earth metals, which are critical for modern technologies. Japan, for example, has championed Urban Mining due to its dependence on rare earth imports from China.
The World Economic Forum describes Urban Mining as the process of reclaiming valuable materials from waste, reducing both the need for new extractions and the environmental impact of landfilling or incineration. Urban Mining is a cornerstone of the circular economy, contributing to a more sustainable use of resources by keeping them in circulation for as long as possible.
Urban Mining in Action
Several projects across Europe are leading the way in Urban Mining. We can find 3 relevant examples below:
- Zurich Urban Mining (Switzerland), which focuses on repurposing materials from demolished buildings.
- CityLoops (Europe-wide), a project that addresses the circular economy in urban areas, with a strong focus on construction and demolition waste.
- BAMB (Buildings as Material Banks), a project designed to enable buildings to serve as valuable resource banks for future construction needs.
How to Get Involved: The INBUILT Project’s Survey
The INBUILT project's survey, led by the Technological Center Leitat, is working to map urban mining initiatives across Europe. To do this, Leitat has launched two surveys to collect information on existing urban mining projects and identify key stakeholders in the field. These surveys are an essential step towards fostering collaboration and advancing urban mining practices.
If you are involved in urban mining or know of relevant stakeholders, your insights are invaluable. By participating in these surveys, you can contribute to a more sustainable future for the construction industry and help shape the next wave of innovation in resource efficiency.
Join the INBUILT Project Today
Together, we can drive a more sustainable and resource-efficient construction industry. Share your knowledge, contribute to the surveys, and become part of the urban mining movement. Fill out the surveys before the end of October 2024, and help us create a greener, more circular future:
Let’s transform our cities into virtual mines and build a future where sustainability is at the heart of the construction industry.
This article was written by Leitat Technological Center for the INBUILT project. For more information, please contact Marco Mori mmori@leitat.org