Recreating the construction sector for circularity : Catalysing the reuse of prefabricated concrete elements

Abstract

Construction is one of the most significant sectors consuming virgin materials and producing waste and greenhouse gases. The circular economy has been proposed as a solution to the industry's environmental problems. However, the transition has proved difficult and biased towards recycling rather than waste prevention and reuse. It is not known how the industry could adopt reuse-based solutions, even if reuse could reduce the environmental burdens more so than recycling. This chapter provides insights into how the construction sector could become more circular and low-carbon by reusing building components. It stems from developing the ReCreate project (Horizon 2020), which investigates the deconstruction and reuse of prefabricated concrete elements not originally designed for disassembly. The analytical approach used here is Frank Geels's multi-level perspective for technology transitions. This chapter is a theoretical contribution that identifies and explains a wide spectrum of diverse catalysts necessary for the reuse transition, ranging from technological development (in deconstruction, remanufacturing, design, and digitalisation) to societal and economic developments (in behaviour and acceptance, work skills, safety, regulation, business models, and value chains). It also discusses catalysts' roles and timeframes in the nexus of a sociotechnical regime (business-as-usual construction) and niche innovation (reuse), which is attempting a breakthrough. A conceptual framework is provided for facilitating a reuse transition in the construction sector.