Tag: Circular Economy

Enhancing the Circular Economy with Nature-Based Solutions in the Built Urban Environment: Green Building Materials, Systems and Sites

Can we design cities that function like forest? This research makes the case for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as the “missing link” in our transition to a circular economy.

By moving away from synthetic, linear materials and embracing biocomposites and vegetated building systems, we can create urban environments that actually “give back” to the planet.

The study highlights that a truly circular city doesn’t just recycle waste; it provides ecosystem services. From green roofs that cool our streets to plant-based materials that store carbon, NBS offer a way to counter the negative impacts of rapid urbanization.

Through a series of modern case studies, the authors demonstrate that when we align our building policies with natural processes, we don’t just build more sustainably, we build more resilient, healthier and more efficient cities for everyone.

Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.2166/bgs.2019.928

Reference

David Pearlmutter, et al; Enhancing the circular economy with nature-based solutions in the built urban environment: green building materials, systems and sites. Blue-Green Systems 1 January 2020; 2 (1): 46–72
Circular Economy Strategies for Adaptive Reuse of Cultural Heritage Buildings to Reduce Environmental Impacts

The “greenest” building is sometimes the one that has remained after many years. This research explores how Circular Economy strategies can breathe new life into abandoned or underutilized cultural heritage buildings, transforming them from relics of the past into facilitator for a sustainable future.

By focusing on adaptative reuse, cities can revitalize neighborhoods and preserve their unique historical identity while drastically reducing the environmental cost of new construction.

By applying systematic review of literature and synthesis methods, the research introduces a comprehensive circular economy framework designed to fill the knowledge and tools gap of decision-makers.

It merges lifecycle environmental techniques with circular supply chain approach, providing the tools needed to prove that extending a building’s lifespan is an economic, social and ecological win.

For the modern urban planner, this study demonstrate that heritage preservation isn’t just about history, it’s a high-performance strategy for building resilient, resource-efficient, and culturally rich circular cities.

Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104507

Reference

Foster, G. (2020). Circular economy strategies for adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings to reduce environmental impacts. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 152, 104507
Embodied Energy in Existing Buildings as a Tool for Sustainable Intervention on Urban Heritage

As we shift our focus toward a truly circular economy, we are discovering that the “greenest” building might not be the one with the most solar panels, but the one that already exists.

This research dives into the critical, yet often overlooked, concept of embodied energy—the total energy already “locked” into the bricks, steel, and concrete of our current building stock.

The study aims to fill a significant research gap: how do we accurately calculate this stored energy to prove that renovating an old building is often more sustainable than tearing it down to build a new, “efficient” one?

To tackle this, the authors conducted a critical literature review and proposed a new, comprehensive calculation method. This approach integrates two perspectives: a retroactive view (the energy already spent in the past) and a prospective view (the energy required for future maintenance or reuse).

By framing these within a life-cycle energy analysis, the researchers created a decision-making tool specifically for urban planners and heritage managers.

The findings highlight that treating embodied energy as a key “decision parameter” can fundamentally change whether a city chooses to demolish or preserve.

Ultimately, the paper concludes that the energy stored in our urban heritage is an untapped asset; prioritizing its reuse is essential for reducing the total carbon footprint of our future cities and ensuring that sustainability is measured over a building’s entire life, not just its daily energy bill.

Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104284

Reference

Guidetti, E., & Ferrara, M. (2023). Embodied energy in existing buildings as a tool for sustainable intervention on urban heritage. Sustainable Cities and Society, 88, 104284
Is Europe on the Way to Sustainable Development? Compatibility of Green Environment, Economic Growth, and Circular Economy Issues

This research dives into the complex “three-way” relationship between environmental health, economic growth, and the circular economy across 31 European nations.

Covering the decade from 2009 to 2020, the study investigates a critical paradox: how can we keep our economies growing (GDP) without drowning in the waste that growth typically creates? Using data from Eurostat and the World Bank, the authors employed a panel data analysis to track variables like energy consumption, capital investment, and various emissions (GHG, SOx, NOx).

The findings present a mixed reality for the European green transition. While capital investment (gross fixed capital formation) shows a promising ability to help reduce municipal waste, traditional drivers of wealth—like GDP and energy consumption—are still pushing waste levels higher. This “novel” association of variables highlights that a circular economy isn’t just a recycling goal; it’s a necessary policy shift.

The paper concludes by offering specific economic measures that can decouple growth from environmental degradation, ensuring that the transition to a “green environment” is supported by a robust, low-waste economic framework.

Learn more about this paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/1078

Reference
In Search of a Financial Model for a Sustainable Economy

Traditional financial models often treat money as a neutral tool, but in a world facing climate change, the “financial sphere” must evolve to support the “real sphere.”

This research explores how sustainable finance acts as the glue that binds these two worlds together. By examining the interactions between businesses and funding, the study introduces a Triple Layered Model that moves beyond simple profit to prioritize Governance, Society, and the Environment.

The findings highlight a new era—Sustainable Finance 4.0—where digital innovation is harnessed to fund the circular economy. This isn’t just about “green” investing; it’s about a fundamental shift in how we define value. By aligning financial instruments with the goals of the circular economy, we can ensure that our economic systems are not only profitable but also resilient and regenerative for future generations.

Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2022.16632

Reference

Zioło, M., Bąk, I., Filipiak, B. Z., & Spoz, A. (2022). In search of a financial model for a sustainable economy. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 28(4), 920–947
Geopolymer Concrete as Green Building Materials: Recent Applications, Sustainable Development and Circular Economy Potentials

Traditional concrete is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, creating an urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives.

This systematic review identifies Geopolymer Concrete (GeoC) as a superior “green” material that leverages diverse industrial and agricultural wastes as its primary ingredients. The research demonstrates that GeoC is not only structurally sound and durable but also acts as a critical engine for the Circular Economy, turning low-value waste into high-value infrastructure.

The study explicitly links the advancement of GeoC technology to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, showing that its widespread adoption supports 12 of the 17 SDGs.

By refining the synthesis process and optimizing the cost of waste-based matrixes, the construction industry can replace traditional cement with a carbon-neutral alternative.

For the scientific and engineering communities, the findings suggest that GeoC is a primary candidate for achieving sustainable development in the built environment.

Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155577

Reference

Shehata, N., Mohamed, O. A., Sayed, E. T., Abdelkareem, M. A., & Olabi, A. G. (2022). Geopolymer concrete as green building materials: Recent applications, sustainable development and circular economy potentials. Science of The Total Environment, 836, 155577
Implementing Circular Economy Strategies in Buildings—From Theory to Practice

How do we stop buildings from becoming the landfills of tomorrow? This research explores the transition of the construction industry from a linear “take-make-waste” model to an innovative Circular Economic model to addres the practical gap: how to transform buildings from temporary structures to permanent “banks” of valuable resources. By shifting to a close-loop system, the construction industry can eliminate the very concept of waste, treating every component as regenerative asset that must be kept use at its highest value.

The study identifies three “game-changing” pillars for this transition: Digitalization, Wise Resources Management, and Innovative Design. Through the use of digital material tracking and “Design for Disassembly”, we can ensure that a building’s end-of-life is actually just the beginning of a new cycle.

This shift doesn’t just benefit the environment; it creates the foundation for healthier, high-performance cities where resources are managed as the scarce and precious commodities they truly are.

Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/asi4020026

Reference

Rahla, K. M., Mateus, R., & Bragança, L. (2021). Implementing Circular Economy Strategies in Buildings—From Theory to Practice. Applied System Innovation, 4(2), 26
Sustainability in Building and Construction within the Framework of Circular Cities and European New Green Deal – The Contribution of Concrete Recycling

Can we build our way to carbon neutrality? According to this research, the answer lies in reimagining the lifecycle of our most common material: concrete.

Within the ambitious framework of the European New Green Deal, this study explores how Eco-design and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can transform the construction sector from a major polluter into a pillar of the circular economy.

By focusing on the “green design” of products and the rigorous recycling of construction and demolition waste, the authors demonstrate how we can significantly reduce the 36% of emissions currently tied to our built environment.

The findings suggest that “circular cities” are not built with magic, but with the careful, innovative recycling of the materials we already have. For the modern policymaker, this paper provides the evidence that concrete recycling isn’t just an industrial process, it’s a vital strategy for a resource-efficient, carbon-neutral Europe.

Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042139

Reference

Bonoli, A., Zanni, S., & Serrano-Bernardo, F. (2021). Sustainability in Building and Construction within the Framework of Circular Cities and European New Green Deal. The Contribution of Concrete Recycling. Sustainability, 13(4), 2139
Comparison of Environmental Assessment Methods when Reusing Building Components: A Case Study

This research explores the lack of standardized Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools capable of measuring the environmental benefits of reusing building components from demolition sites. By testings six recognized carbon-accounting methodologies (including the Cut-off, End-of-life, and Environmental Footprint methods) on a Swiss case study (Kopfabu Halle 118), the authors demonstrate that current quantification tools produce highly inconsistent results.

These discrepancies stem from how different methods allocate carbon “burdens” and “credits” across a component’s first, intermediate, and final lifecycles.

The study explicitly states that existing frameworks are too limited in scope to address the complexities of reuse. They fail to quantify critical circular characteristics such as dis/re- mountability, versatility, design complexity, and the impact of storage and transformation.

The findings conclude that until theses specific features are integrated into standardized equations, LCA tools will remain inadequate for accurately demonstrating the climate benefits of reuse in the built environment.

Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102322

Reference

De Wolf, C., Hoxha, E., & Fivet, C. (2020). Comparison of environmental assessment methods when reusing building components: A case study. Sustainable Cities and Society, 61, 102322.