Construction and Demolition Waste represents a big challenge for cities as well as opportunities from the economic, environmental, and social aspects

Cities play an important role today in the mitigation and adaptation of climate change.

On September 15, the first Forum on Construction and Demolition Waste, opportunities and benefits for the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, was held with great success. Different options for promoting the circular economy in the construction sector and opportunities for the private sector were discussed, as well as the regulatory context and the importance of certifications and the design stage.

Cities play an important role today in the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. In this sense, how do cities address the challenges in the face of forecasts of imminent shortages of raw materials and minerals needed in the construction sector? How do cities plan against the outlook of population growth, whether due to climate change and migration processes or due to the natural growth of the population? In all cases, cities will need to satisfy the demands of the growing population, for spaces for habitat, recreation, and transportation. For which, cities have to be prepared to address this challenge including an environmental and social care approach.

(Kiel, September 30, 2020). The construction and demolition waste (CDW) represent one of the largest waste streams within the European Union (EU). In 2019, 25-30% of all waste generated in the EU had its origin from the construction and building sector. Likewise, approximately 47% of CDW generated in the EU is ending up in landfills. Under this panorama, the promotion of policies and directives addressing this problem is needed, above all, considering that 60% of the area expected to be urban by 2030 is not yet built.

The Forum on CDW was focused on presenting the different views of representatives of the most important sectors responsible for promoting recycling and reuse of CDW in cities.

The Forum was planned and organized by Melissa Capcha Eulogio. It had the support of institutions such as the Cradle to Cradle NGO and its Regional Group from Kiel lead by Kirsten Komander, Climate-KIC program, Journey 2020, and the Ministry of Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitalization of Schleswig-Holstein.

The program counted with the participation of the most important actors for the promotion of sustainable construction. Representing the public sector, from the department of material and waste management, and Chemical Safety of the Ministry of Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitalization, the regulatory framework of CDW in the state of Schleswig-Holstein was addressed.

Likewise, the next steps regarding this issue were presented. Representing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Climate-KIC program, Sander Jahilo, program manager of the circular economy chapter, presented the opportunities to promote the circular economy in the construction sector from a European Union perspective. Representing the private sector, Dr. Guntram Lauenstein, Managing Director of the private company, Peter Glindemann, presented the status quo of the CDW management that the company performs in the city of Kiel, as well as the existing market opportunities.

In the second part of the Forum program, successful cases were presented regarding the use of secondary materials for the construction of new buildings in different cities in Germany and the European Union. Andreas Esser, representing the German NGO Cradle to Cradle, began this segment by emphasizing the benefits that the promotion of the circular economy in the construction sector means for cities. Likewise, he presented the approach of “building as material banks” as an alternative for the use and reuse of CDW. 

From the design area, proposals were presented for innovative and feasible construction of buildings from secondary material and under the approach of "design for disassembly", successfully applied in Kiel and other cities in Germany. Dr. Inge Schröder participated, representing Dipl. Ing. arch. Sabine Schlüter who is the leader of the Zero Waste Space project presented what this project consists of and what are the means of collaboration between public and private institutions for the promotion of sustainable constructions. Likewise, a look at design and construction with a social focus and efficient use of energy, taking advantage of secondary materials, and also on the role of certifications. Finally, and with the same importance, the Dipl. Ing. arch. Florian Michaelis from the private company graadwies, transformative Architektur & Stadtentwicklung, highlighted the essential aspects of design and its contribution to the sustainability of the constructions they carry out. Modular and adaptive building examples and the highly ambitious "design for the disassembly" approach were introduced. In addition, Michaelis commented on the experience of his company Graadwies in the market, on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector today. 

The last part of the Forum program was aimed at providing the opportunity for attendees to ask questions and comments to the presenters. For around 30 minutes, questions focused on the capacity to mitigate climate change by the construction sector and cities were addressed. Likewise, on the social and environmental implications of the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials and on the economic benefits, among others.

Press released, written by Melissa Capcha Eulogio, MSc. Sustainability, Society, and the Environment from Kiel University. Part of the Journey 2020 of the EIT Climate-KIC program. Email for contact: melissa.capcha@gmail.com.

More details and the presentations of the Forum can be found at the Wechange Platform: Project section: Construction and Demolition Waste