Metamorphosis! How the circular economy is reshaping our future
Managing and recycling waste: a challenge for responsible construction
The construction industry must face a critical challenge: its environmental footprint. One way it can improve its track record is to optimise waste management by encouraging sorting, recovery and reuse.
Breaking away from the conventional production & consumption cycle, whereby our economies extract materials, transform them into products, use and discard them, we need to build a circular economy where waste is seen as a resource to be channeled back into production. In our industry, this means designing efficient, low-impact products that can form an integral part of a responsible, sustainable building.
According to France’s environmental agency Ademe, such an approach is beginning to bear fruit, with waste production in the construction industry dropping from 23.9 million tonnes in 2018 to 18.7 million tonnes in 2020. The services sector recorded a similar reduction, from 25 million tonnes in 2010 to 18 million tonnes in 2020.
Adopting the circular economy in construction and renovation projects
Waste prevention, management and reduction are key to GSE’s approach. Going beyond basic recycling, the circular economy aims to transform the very idea of construction by rethinking the entire value chain of products and processes.
Responsible purchasing
Adopting responsible purchasing practices and building a sustainable supply chain should come naturally during product selection, in order to minimise environmental impacts and boost the local economy. For instance, GSE prefers local suppliers committed to social responsibility, such as products made from wood harvested from sustainably managed forests. Choosing a local supplier also reduces greenhouse gas emissions linked to transport. Our Purchasing department is committed to a rigorous selection process for suppliers that meet these principles.
Material frugality
Frugality is another key pillar of our approach. It is based on the optimisation of needs, the design of sustainable solutions and the promotion of an economy of functionality that favours the use of goods and services rather than their possession. Sharing resources, such as car parks and office space, is a good example of optimising accessibility and economic and environmental efficiency.
Green buildings and products
Extending the lifespan of products and buildings is a battle against obsolescence, made easier by buildings’ potential for evolution. Modular buildings offer the possibility of adjusting and maximising their use over time. This sustainability is particularly significant when you consider the overall cost of a construction project, which includes not only the initial investment costs, but also expenditure on operating, maintaining and even deconstructing the building. The recovery of non-hazardous building waste currently stands at 25%: 15% is recycled and 10% recovered as energy. This relatively low figure illustrates the scale of the progress we need to make in this area. In total, 50% of non-hazardous construction waste is not sorted on site.
At what scale should a circular economy strategy be implemented? A building, a neighbourhood, a region?
The circular economy clearly aims to bring business back to the local level, maximise the use of local resources, generate jobs that cannot be relocated, and consequently increase the attractiveness of the regions. This principle involves many local networks motivated by the challenges of the circular economy, focusing on various areas such as waste prevention, reduction and recovery. Each region, with its own specific characteristics, is considering how to establish a new organisation that is both collaborative and socially responsible.
The circular economy impacts regions, communities, and down to neighbourhoods and residents, as well as affecting buildings’ operation.
An integrated approach that coordinates players at various levels is usually the most effective way forward. It promotes the principles of the circular economy in a comprehensive, sustainable way, involving all stakeholders at varioius geographical levels – for example in the choice and regulation of ventilation systems, the reduction of sources of pollutants emitted by materials and furniture, and even raising awareness among site teams.
The impact of certificates and labels
Certificates generally cover multiple criteria and topics, while labels tend to focus on a single issue. Environmental certificates and labels help promote and integrate the principles of the circular economy into the construction sector. They are badges of quality and sustainability that provide assurance to developers and investors, as well as targets for operating companies.
Certificates and labels encourage companies to constantly improve their practices. This supports innovation in eco-design, resource efficiency and recycling.
Examples of certificates and labels regarding circularity
Circolab : This label aims to establish a framework for building industry players involved in the reuse of materials. It provides project owners with a robust benchmark against which to assess and promote their initiatives. By making these practices more secure, the label gives stakeholders peace of mind.
Cerema : The 2E2 label aims to identify and highlight the best practices of those involved in the construction and public works sector in terms of waste prevention & management and the use of alternative materials.
Afnor : To support organisations in their energy and ecological transition, the AFAQ circular economy assessment is based on the XP X30-901 standard. This standard is the vehicle for a major ambition: to facilitate constructive dialogue in France on the subject of the circular economy, with a view to rethinking production & consumption modes.
Ecolabel Européen : Attests that the products or services have a reduced environmental impact over their entire lifecycle.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) : Certifies the sustainability of buildings, promoting construction and operation practices that respect the principles of the circular economy.
B Corp : Certifies companies that meet demanding criteria in terms of social & environmental performance, transparency and responsibility.
Société à mission : A French legal status enabling a “mission-driven company” to officially set itself social or environmental objectives, in line with and alongside its business objectives.
HQE Performance Economie circulaire : Introduced in March 2019 by the HQE – GBC Alliance, this experimental initiative is offered to participating real estate owners. It aims to provide a framework for action for stakeholders and assess the impact of their circular economy initiatives.
BREEAM (Building Research Establichment Environmental Assessment Method) ensures that the building has a reduced environmental impact. It applies to new buildings and renovations, and is awarded to both apartment blocks and commercial buildings.
Certifications and labels are proving to be essential tools for the promotion of the circular economy. They offer guarantees of quality, increase transparency and encourage innovation. These standards also facilitate market entry for the companies that adopt them, encourage responsible corporate behaviour and support the development of public policies. For companies, obtaining these certificates & labels enables them to stand out in the market. For investors, it offers the opportunity to position themselves as pioneers of the sustainable and circular revolution.
How is the circular economy redefining the future of construction?
GSE’s circular economy initiatives are showing promising results. In 2022, the average recovery rate for our construction site waste was estimated at 68%, while the material reuse rate was 17%. These figures are not just performance indicators: they demonstrate our unwavering commitment to more sustainable construction.
Our R&D team also works with start-ups, universities and researchers to innovate in our buildings. This can mean using renewable, recycled or low environmental impact materials, such as recycled steel, recycled paint and reused sanitaryware.
In our economies as a whole, the figures are just as revealing. In France, with almost 800,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the circular economy (more than 3% of the total workforce), this sector is becoming a pillar of the modern economy. The development of waste repair, reuse and recycling activities generates around 25 times more jobs than simply landfilling waste. The growth potential is such that the government estimates that 300,000 new jobs could be created in this area.
On the other hand, the French Observatory of Sustainable Real Estate (OID) reveals that only 25% of non-hazardous building waste is recovered, with 15% going to recycling and 10% to energy recovery. There is considerable room for improvement. Currently, 50% of non-hazardous construction waste is not sorted on building sites, which is both a challenge and an opportunity to improve waste management practices.
By consolidating our efforts and adopting a holistic approach, we can not only increase material recovery rates, but also boost employment and promote a sustainable, circular economy. The prospects for growth or huge, and it is imperative that we act now to build a future where sustainability is at the heart of construction and waste management.
