Abstract
Reuse involves taking reclaimed building materials and components that been carefully dismantled from a building undergoing demolition for use in a new construction.
Reusing materials has many benefits: environmental, social, economic and cultural.
Throughout history, reuse practices have been commonplace. However, they declined during the twentieth century under the combined effect of the mechanisation of demolition sites, the gradual increase in labour costs, the need for speed (particularly in urban contexts) and the growing attraction of new types of industrial materials that are less obvious to reclaim.
However, in the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in reuse practices. This is motivated by concerns such as preserving the existing built environment, mitigating the impacts on the environment, reducing waste and working with quality materials bearing a history.
Today, reusing building materials features prominently in many local, regional, national and European public policies aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of the construction sector and managing material resources in a more sustainable way. This principle is also being promoted through the adoption of circular economy principles - understood as a context in which the production of added-value would derive from extending the lifespan of existing goods by keeping them in circulation as opposed to a ‘classic’ model based on a production-consumption-discard logic.
By encouraging the reuse of building materials and components in construction or renovation projects, project owners can contribute to these efforts and significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building industry.
Reusing materials has many benefits: environmental, social, economic and cultural.
Throughout history, reuse practices have been commonplace. However, they declined during the twentieth century under the combined effect of the mechanisation of demolition sites, the gradual increase in labour costs, the need for speed (particularly in urban contexts) and the growing attraction of new types of industrial materials that are less obvious to reclaim.
However, in the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in reuse practices. This is motivated by concerns such as preserving the existing built environment, mitigating the impacts on the environment, reducing waste and working with quality materials bearing a history.
Today, reusing building materials features prominently in many local, regional, national and European public policies aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of the construction sector and managing material resources in a more sustainable way. This principle is also being promoted through the adoption of circular economy principles - understood as a context in which the production of added-value would derive from extending the lifespan of existing goods by keeping them in circulation as opposed to a ‘classic’ model based on a production-consumption-discard logic.
By encouraging the reuse of building materials and components in construction or renovation projects, project owners can contribute to these efforts and significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building industry.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 173 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2021 |
Keywords
- Reuse-oriented redesign
- Reclaimed Materials
- Public Procurement
- Low Carbon