As we know, as much as 40 per cent of global carbon emissions is attributable to what is required to build, maintain and operate our buildings, a third of which come from materials and construction. As Savills new Spotlight on Property and Carbon report states, adopting a circular economy approach can help to reduce these emissions as well as overhead costs and ultimately support a more resilient supply chain.
In order to implement this effectively, it is essential that we transition away from a ‘take, make, use and dispose’ model and go beyond the ‘reduce, reuse or recycle’ waste hierarchy. This essentially means designing out waste from the beginning through concepts such as ‘design for deconstruction’, where, at the end of their life, products can be dismantled and re-engineered so they are as good as new.
By committing to a circular economy it is possible to take each element of a property’s lifecycle, from design through to construction, and reduce its carbon impact. This is especially important as carbon is emitted from the first moment the ground is broken on a new development. In fact, according to think-tank Chatham House, the construction industry is the largest consumer of natural resources in the UK. It is also important to remember that this embodied carbon, unlike operational emissions, cannot be improved or reversed.
Although you stand to gain the most carbon reduction by adopting the circular economy during the construction of a building through the use of modern methods of construction, benefits can still be realised during the operational phase, meaning it is never too late to make a difference. Collaboration between landlords and occupiers across all sectors, can, and should, result in a far more sustainable outlook for real estate that will actively reduce the carbon emissions produced by property across our cities.
Take an office fit-out, for example: new innovative business models such as non-ownership will provide an effective way to reduce the frequent need to provide office space with furniture and lighting. Rather than purchasing outright, these would be leased via a company which takes full ownership of these materials and their longevity. A small but relatable example is the use of square flooring tiles, which can be individually changed once worn rather than having to replace the whole floor. The adoption of the circular economy also ensures products can be deconstructed, reused and re-distributed via specialist sharing platforms.
To enable deconstruction at end of life it is important to understand how products are created. Innovations such as ‘material passports’ will help to ensure that we know the exact make-up of the products we use, which as a consequence will make re-using them at end of life a far simpler process.
Ultimately adopting a circular economy will ensure we don’t take a wrong turn when it comes to being more sustainable.
Further information
Read more: The real estate life cycle and carbon