URGE Collective’s Post

♻️Circular Technologies in Construction: Putting Science Into Standards A new report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) highlights the urgent need for #standardization to advance circular practices in the #constructionsector. With construction being a major contributor to waste and resource use, the report stresses the importance of standardization to guide the sector’s transition to a more #sustainable, circular model. Key areas identified for future standardization include: ✅ Terminology to ensure a unified understanding and consistent application of #circularprinciples ✅ Developing #metrology standards  for accurate measurement and performance characterization of #circularity ✅ Compatibility and #operability assessments to evaluate how well new circular technologies integrate into existing systems The report calls for pre-normative research to bridge gaps in these areas and develop frameworks that will support #innovation, improve #resourceefficiency, and ensure #safety in the construction industry. ℹ️ https://lnkd.in/d_MXMx66

💡 Sustainable & Green Engineering: Designing a Future that Thrives. In an era where ecological impact can no longer be an afterthought, #sustainability is at the heart of #engineering #innovation. The Royal Academy of Engineering consistently #champions forward-thinking solutions that reduce #carbon #footprints, preserve resources, and enrich communities—ultimately shaping a more #resilient and #equitable world. From developing energy-efficient infrastructure to advancing #circular economy principles, #Green #Engineering goes beyond mere compliance; it’s about designing with the #planet in mind, ensuring each step we take benefits #people, #places, and the #planet simultaneously. 😎 Let’s reimagine what’s possible when innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. Share with us your thoughts. Royal Academy of Engineering, Industrial Research And Development Fund - IRDF, Rima Ras, Gaëlle Elisha, Kofoworola Oyeleye, Ruby S., Niccolo Amoroso. #InnovationLeaders #LIFJordanChapter #ScientificEntrepreneurship #GreenEngineering #Sustainability #EngineeringForGood #NetZero #FutureOfEngineering

#PublicationAlert: SirkTRE’s Evolution or Circulution? Diverse Pathways of Circular Systemic Solutions for a Net-Zero Timber-Built Environment This paper was presented during The 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment(NTZR 2024), in Oslo, June 2024. Representatives of different SirkTRE partners contributed to this conference paper: Wendy Wuyts, Nhat Strøm-Andersen, Shumaila K., Arild Eriksen, Per F Jørgensen, Arild Øvergaard, Emil Rygh, Angelica Kveen, Alexander Otto Mertens, Jannicke Stadaas, Inger Astrid Øygarden Gamme, Veronique Vasseur, Anders Q Nyrud & Kristine Nore. This paper is funded by SirkTRE and Drastic. Early 2024, the Norwegian innovation and action project SirkTRE is halfway through. In recent years, it has been increasingly recognized that circular wood solutions for construction solutions are often technically feasible; this is particularly underscored by the SirkTRE project (2022–2025). However, the scaling up of these solutions and their interaction with various barriers underscore the necessity of systemic approaches. This chapter delves into selected circular systemic solutions derived from the project. This collaborative autoethnography, drawing insights from observations and reflections on own experiences, takes an evolutionary approach to selected SirkTRE solutions. The case studies within SirkTRE include solutions at the manufacturing level, the architectural product-system level, and the building-site level and strategies engaging municipalities to supply and utilize reclaimed timber in (especially public) buildings. These examples illustrate not only the successes but also the challenges, including how economic, political, technological, and strategic decisions can impact the scaling up/out or ending. To catalyze a true revolution, or ‘circulution’, it is imperative to integrate governance, and business models, to foster interactions in the emerging system.

Read our conference paper about how it is imperative to integrate governance, and business models, to foster interactions in the emerging system for circular solutions. Brilliantly delivered by Wendy Wuyts and SirkTRE

💬 Discussion Topic: Sustainable Engineering Practices As the world faces climate challenges, how can engineers incorporate sustainability into their projects? What innovative practices or materials do you think can make a significant difference? Let’s explore ideas on reducing environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainability in engineering design. Your insights could help shape a more sustainable future for the industry! Let us know your thoughts below. #SustainableEngineering #GreenEngineering #EcoFriendly #Sustainability #EngineeringForChange #RenewableResources #EnergyEfficiency #SustainableDesign #EngineeringInnovation #EnvironmentalImpact #STEM #FutureOfEngineering

𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 by European Commission, Joint Research Centre (#JRC) The construction sector plays a vital role in the #economy and is the second largest #industrial #ecosystem in the #EU. However, it is important to acknowledge that #construction has a significant impact on the #environment, consuming up to half of all newly extracted #materials and being responsible for over 1/3 of the EU's #wastegeneration, making it the largest single #source of #waste. Thus, construction is one of the priority areas in the Circular Economy Action Plan (European Commission, 2020), which aims to facilitate the #transition from a #linear to a #circularmodel. To move towards a more circular model, it is important to retain more value in the entire construction #supplychain, from entire #buildings down to materials, and to find #innovative ways to make them more #environmentally friendly. Additionally, the transition towards a circular model should encompass the entire #sector, and #stakeholders should collaborate to undertake the transition. This #report emphasizes the #importance of #standardisation in promoting circular construction and the #circulareconomy. It discusses the need for future standardisation and pre-normative research for circular construction in #terminology, #metrology, #performance #characterisation, #compatibility and #operability #assessments. Four #strategic #areas could benefit from #standardisation: ♻ frameworks and indicators to measure circularity, ♻ quality assurance of reused and recycled material, end-of-waste criteria, ♻ design for circularity, adaptability and disassembly, and 🏘 building information. The #report also highlights the need for clear #objectives, focused #standards, #cost-effectiveness, common future #scenarios, #resource #indicators, and practical implementation aspects to advance #circularity in the #construction #industry. Andreas Jenet, Marco Lamperti Tornaghi, Georgios Tsionis, Amanda Smidstrup Sejersen, Philippe Moseley, Arturo de la Fuente, Malgorzata Wrobel, Gilli Hobbs, Kasper Guldager Jensen, Catherine Chevauché, Michael Levy, Philippe Osset, Steve Denton, Lisbeth M. Ottosen, Janet Lynch, Martha Lewis, Manfred Fuchs, Livia Mian, Philip Maurer, Fabio Taucer. The download link of the report is here:: https://lnkd.in/emxwuumX

Imagine a world where buildings grow, self-heal, and clean the air. Bio-based materials like bacterial biocement and mycelium bricks are revolutionizing construction. These materials not only reduce emissions but also enhance sustainability. How can these innovations shape your next project? 🏗️ #BioMaterials #SustainableConstruction #Innovation

A recent study published in MDPI’s Sustainability journal reveals key trends in geopolymer composites (GPC), a green alternative to traditional building materials. Using scientometric analysis and Dimensions data, researchers have mapped the interdisciplinary landscape of GPC research, shedding light on its role in the circular economy and its growing impact in green building. Read the latest Dimensions blog to find out more: https://lnkd.in/dVTvU3He #GreenMaterials #Geopolymers #ResearchInnovation #CircularEconomy #Sustainability

🎉 We are pleased to announce the publication of our latest scientific paper '**Mapping of Circular Construction Ecosystems' Characteristics: Interconnections, Relationships, and Synchronization of Stakeholders at the Micro, Meso, and Macro Scales** ', as part of the special issue A Circular Economy for a Cleaner Built Environment in Sustainability. Émilie Gobbo ♻️ 👷♀️👷♂️ This article explores **circular construction (CC) ecosystems** at the macro (regional, national), meso (sectoral, industrial) and micro (project) scales, analysing their interconnections and collective dynamics. The review of the literature reveals a broad spectrum of methodological approaches and a wide range of results, emphasising the necessity for an **ecosystemic vision** to harmonise stakeholders in the transition to a CC. From this perspective, our results address - 🔍 macro issues, through interdependencies of obstacles and challenges between ecosystems stakeholders and the common frame of reference; - 🤝 meso issues, through the influence of CCs on collective activities in the sector, such as changes in roles (expansion, creation, hybridisation, multidisciplinarity), relationships (typologies, commitment) and stakeholder management.  - 🛠 and micro issues focus on the collective implementation of circular strategies through methods (processes, evaluation), tools and business models. 🚧 However, understanding ecosystems is challenging for 2 reasons:  1. They are difficult to define exhaustively, and, like biological ecosystems, they are constantly changing; 2. CC ecosystems lack common representations and visualisations, although representations are indispensable communication tools in the AECO sector between stakeholders through the use of plans, drawings and models (physical or digital). 🧭 Faced with these challenges, **we propose developing a map of circular construction ecosystems** to improve the visualization and understanding of their dynamics. I would like to thank Rabia Charef for the honour of submitting an article for this special issue! ➡️ To find out more and explore our findings, click here : https://lnkd.in/esVyeMxe I'd be delighted to discuss your perspectives and feedback! #Ecosystems #CircularConstruction #Collaborations #Relationships #Map

I’d like to share this insightful discussion on how product designers can drive sustainability by carefully choosing the materials they work with. Watch the full video to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eUTUgMSK