Construction waste: R&D could have the answers

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Phil Sutton and Andrew Leah of Duraproducts look at the critical issue of construction waste and reuse of materials. R&D could have the answers.

Waste reduction – not only is it an environmental responsibility, but it also presents a significant economic opportunity. Minimising consumption and promoting a circular material flow leads to a more sustainable future, reducing landfill reliance and maximising resource efficiency. However, the circular economy is about more than just managing waste – it is about redesigning our systems to ensure that materials and products are kept in use and reuse for as long as possible.

Industry stakeholders should be looking at every stage of the supply chain and product life-cycle. From initial sourcing to the reuse, recycling or carbon recovery, it is vital that energy efficient processes are creating low-carbon products. This approach not only lessens the strain on our natural resources, but also drives innovation and efficiency in manufacturing and production.

Today, business operations must be designed with waste reduction and the circular economy in mind – there is no other option. This can be achieved by using post-consumer and post-industrial waste to reduce the demand for virgin materials and help divert plastic waste from landfills.

Reform and reuse

Our industry must also consider the longevity of what we are creating. It sounds simple, yet we are not seeing it being done enough. Products need to be designed to last to reduce the frequency of replacement and therefore the overall consumption of resources over time. In addition to being made from long-lasting recycled materials, products need to take end-of-life potential into consideration too. This means that once a product reaches the end of its initial life, it can be processed and repurposed to make into new products, effectively closing the loop in the product life-cycle.

The demand for sustainable construction solutions is surging, with the worldwide market expected to grow from an estimated $363.4bn in 2024 to $645.5bn by 2030. Over the past 20 years, we have seen construction specifiers increasingly prioritising innovative solutions such as recycled polymer to reduce their environmental impact. Its use not only lowers a project’s carbon footprint but also creates a positive feedback loop, driving innovation in recycling technology. This enables more materials, including those once considered unrecyclable, to be processed and reused. Additionally, products made from recycled materials can be recycled again at the end of their life-cycle, further supporting sustainability.

This goes beyond merely managing waste; it requires a complete redesign of systems to ensure that resources are maximised at every stage. Reducing and offsetting environmental impacts has always been fundamental to Duraproducts, and it is encouraging more businesses to rethink their approach.

By choosing products with a high recycled content, companies immediately mitigate many of the environmental risks associated with waste. By embracing circular economy principles, we can all collectively reduce our environmental footprint, as well as support economic growth.

Find out more at duraproducts.co.uk

Image credit | Adobe Firefly

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