Construction industry shifts focus to circular economy and resource reuse

The construction industry is shifting its focus toward the circular economy and the efficient reuse of materials. The BAU München 2027 trade fair will highlight innovations in resource management, addressing the challenge of Earth Overshoot Day by treating existing buildings as potential raw material sources rather than just structures. In Germany, the Wuppertal Institut estimates that approximately 20.8 billion tons of building materials are stored in residential and non-residential buildings.

On a broader scale, Recycling Europe and other European associations have released recommendations to improve the recycling potential of construction and demolition waste (CDW). CDW represents the largest waste stream in the EU, accounting for more than one-third of all waste. While the EU aims to double the circular material use rate by 2030 through the Clean Industrial Deal, structural hurdles remain. These include low market acceptance of recycled materials, unfair competition from primary raw materials, and issues with material traceability and contamination. Recycling rates across EU member states vary significantly, ranging from 10 percent to over 90 percent.