Title:Sustainable Circular Economy in Construction
Abstract:
In 2023, the global building sector accounted for 32% of energy demand and 34% of total energy-related CO2 emissions, reaching nearly 10GtCO2 (Hamilton, Kennard et al. 2024). In the UK context, the built environment already accounts for almost 30% of the UK’s total territorial GHG emissions (Green, Jonca et al. 2021), with the main materials used in construction accounting for as much as 25 MtCO2e, of which 60% are cementitious materials (Drewniok, Azevedo et al. 2023). As the demand for construction (residential, commercial, non-emitting carbon infrastructure) is expected to increase, so will the use of construction materials.. Embodied carbon is also predicted to contribute more to total emissions in the coming years (Green, Jonca et al. 2021). To meet UK net-zero carbon targets with confidence, Circular Economy Strategies must be implemented to reduce future concrete demand by 40% (Rihner, Hafez et al. 2025).
In many cases, the main Circular Economy strategy for the product end-of-life is "close the loop" recycling. Nevertheless, the Circular Economy strategy can bring limited sustainability benefits (e.g. when considering “closing loops” with energy from waste) or even increase energy and/or water demand and loss of materials properties (e.g. during recovering and recycling materials) (Velenturf and Purnell 2021). But Sustainable Circular Economy is more than just recycling. It is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. Besides keeping the product and materials circulated throughout the lifecycle, a sustainable circular economy system strengthens the environmental quality, human well-being and economic prosperity for current and future generations. (Velenturf and Purnell 2021).
In his presentation, Michal will highlight the concept of sustainable circular economy and how it can help in order to achieve the UK carbon reduction goals.
Literature:
Drewniok, M. P., J. M. C. Azevedo, C. F. Dunant, J. M. Allwood, J. M. Cullen, T. Ibell and W. Hawkins (2023). "Mapping material use and embodied carbon in UK construction." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 197: 107056.
Green, A., A. Jonca, T. Spurrier, C. Pountney, J. Giesekam and K. Steele (2021). Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap for the Built Environment: Technical Report. London, ARUP, UK Green Building Council.
Hamilton, I., H. Kennard, O. Rapf, J. Amorocho, S. Steuwer, J. Kockat and Z. Toth (2024). "Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction-Beyond foundations: Mainstreaming sustainable solutions to cut emissions from the buildings sector."
Rihner, M. C. S., H. Hafez, B. Walkley, P. Purnell and M. Drewniok (2025). "Thousand cuts: a realistic route to decarbonise the UK cement and concrete sector by 2050." Sustainable Production and Consumption 58: 319-333.
Velenturf, A. P. M. and P. Purnell (2021). "Principles for a sustainable circular economy." Sustainable Production and Consumption 27: 1437-1457.
Speaker Bio: Michal Drewniok
Michal is an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds. His background is civil engineering and holds PhD in concrete technology. Michal has worked at the University of Cambridge and the University of Bath (2016-2022) on various projects (Innovate UK, UKRI EPSRC, EPSRC IAA) centred on making better use and reuse of structural materials, the role of material efficiency in building conception and design in construction, ways to achieve carbon reduction targets in UK construction, and circular economy in construction. His latest research is looking at Material Flow Analysis in Construction and development of innovate low carbon cements and Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). In 2022 Michal has joined the University of Leeds as Research Fellow in Transforming Foundation Industries. In the same year he was appointed as a lecturer and took a role of co-I of the TransFire HUB (UKRI EP/V054627/1) and Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-Based Construction Materials(UKRI EP/V011820/1), as well as PI and co-I of 2 Innovate UK and 3 EPSRC IAA projects. Michal is involved in work on improving consistency in Whole Life Carbon Assessment and Reporting with WLCN, RIBA, LETI, is a co-author of the Low Carbon Concrete Routemapand the Efficient use of GGBS in reducing global emissions. He is also a member of UK Civil Engineers Declare Climate & Biodiversity Emergency steering group. He is also a coordinator of the Resource Efficiency in Construction and the Built Environment (RECBE) Forum.