Danish construction sector faces waste reporting and climate data discrepancies

New analyses of the Danish construction sector reveal significant discrepancies in waste reporting and climate impact calculations.

A report by Realdania, titled ‘Cirkulært Byggeri 2.0’, indicates that the actual amount of construction and demolition waste is approximately 67% higher than official records. While the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s database registers 4.5 million tons annually, the analysis estimates the total at 7.5 million tons. This discrepancy is largely due to materials like concrete, bricks, and tiles being crushed and reused locally as filler material, which bypasses the reporting requirements of official receiving facilities.

Separately, a memorandum from the Strategic Network for Sustainable Construction has identified major inconsistencies in how the industry’s climate footprint is measured. After reviewing nine different studies, the working group found significant variations in methodologies and data sets. These differences arise because some studies focus solely on new construction, while others include renovations, demolitions, and operational energy consumption. The group is calling for standardized methods to ensure that climate data can be used effectively for both monitoring industry trends and supporting political and practical decision-making.