Repository logo
 

Circular economy of façades: Real-world challenges and opportunities

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Abstract

Reuse and high-value recycling have a pivotal role to play in reducing waste and minimising carbon emissions in the built environment. Design strategies for such recovery methods have yet to be fully established in the façade industry. Meanwhile, stringent regulations, aimed at reducing operational carbon emissions of buildings and improving other performance criteria such as occupant safety, have stimulated the use of more complex façade systems that incorporate multiple functions. Other areas of the façade life cycle, such as embodied carbon and high-value material recovery, are rarely considered at the early design stage. This study adopts a mixed-method approach of data collection, to investigate the key challenges and opportunities associated with promoting high-value recovery options for façade products, as perceived by stakeholders in the façade supply-chain. Data was initially collected through an online survey completed by 69 stakeholders from across the façade knowledge/supply-chain. This was followed by 29 semi-structured interviews with selected survey respondents. It emerged that the advancement of circular design strategies is dependent on: increased awareness and quantification of the environmental value of circular design; cross-supply-chain buy-in on developments in take-back infrastructure including greater support for demolition contractors; and advancements in technological separation methods specific to façade components. In addition, it necessitates: increased communication, particularly between clients, material processors and façade contractors surrounding acceptability criteria, availability of products/materials and any associated design trade-offs; and more holistic legislation that better considers whole life-cycle emissions, to avoid the over-emphasis on operational efficiency. Finally, we show that the ranking of these factors varies between stakeholder groups and we identify strategies for levering these factors to minimise environmental losses and maximise economic value in the façade sector.

Description

Keywords

Circular economy, Reuse, Recycling, Embodied carbon, End-of-life, Design-for-disassembly, Facades

Journal Title

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0921-3449
1879-0658

Volume Title

175

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
EPSRC (1817352)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L016095/1)
EPSRC grant reference number EP/L016095/1