Circular Economy in the Construction Sector

In view of the fact that globally available resources are finite, it is becoming increasingly important to keep the raw materials once taken from the planet in a high-quality condition and to use them as long as possible. Nevertheless, more and more new resources are introduced into new buildings and consumer goods, where they usually remain in or are “stored” in for many decades. Instead of disposing of these at the end of life, the building stock and also the goods produced by man are increasingly being considered as a central source of raw materials. In this context one speaks of “urban mining” or of the anthropogenic.

The responsible use of resources has been a central concern of the DGNB from the outset. For this reason, the DGNB has anchored in its certification system and thus in the market a large number of aspects that contribute to a circular economy in the construction and real estate sector. These are for instance the building life cycle assessment, the conscious choice of construction products with regard to their composition and origin, as well as the ease of recovery and recycling.

In the DGNB report “Circular Economy – Closing loops means being fit for the future”, the Non-Profit-Organisation has gathered strategic fields of action and informs the relevant stakeholders about how they can actively participate in the transformation towards a circular economy. Building owners and planners are provided with a toolbox that shows how the idea of circular economy can be realised in their concrete project.