The Circular Economy in construction focuses on maximising resource efficiency and minimising waste throughout a building’s entire lifecycle—from design and construction to operation and deconstruction. Unlike the traditional “take, use, dispose” model, circular construction ensures that materials, products, and spaces are designed for longevity, adaptability, and reuse.
Embedding circular principles into the built environment can reduce environmental impact, extend the value of materials, and create buildings that are not only resource-efficient but also resilient and future-proof.
Where to find information about this topic? We suggest you start with our On-Demand Course.
You can also find key reading materials and webinars in this section of our Learning Hub.
IGBC’S INITIATIVES IN CIRCULARITY
Table of Contents
Circularity Roadmap for the Built Environment
The EPA-funded project Circular Build aims at developing a Circular Environment Playbook, by:
– creating a Circular toolkit for industry professionals, academics and students;
– creating an Educational Hub, which aims to provide leadership in transitioning the Irish construction sector towards a decarbonized and circular built environment
– designing and developing a National Circular Built Environment Roadmap to 2040.
The project lead, the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), in collaboration with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and the University of Galway (UG), will be broadly engaged with stakeholders from different backgrounds and expertise in four key circular areas of the Construction sector. For more information get in touch with Sinead.
- The draft version of “Building a Circular Ireland” is currently under consultation. You can leave your feedback here.
This project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Material Passport (MP)
Climate and housing are two of the most pressing issues facing Ireland. Addressing them requires a paradigm shift in the way we design, construct, and manage our built environment. Circularity must be at the heart of this transition. Yet, the circularity material use rate remains extremely low in Ireland – 2% in 2020.
Material Passports (MP) are a key instrument to support our transition to a more circular and sustainable built environment. They provide a set of data on the characteristics of materials in products that give them value for recovery and reuse. This IGBC project is an exciting collaboration with developers, product manufacturers, and contractors to explore the potential of Material Passports and digital twins in the construction industry.
Project Goals and Deliverables:
- Guidance on Data Collection: Developing clear standards and best practices for gathering and managing material data.
- Quantifying Circular Economy Benefits: Demonstrating the tangible economic and environmental benefits of using Material Passports in Ireland.
- Policy and Recommendations: Creating actionable insights and strategies for embedding Material Passports into Irish construction practices, supporting a nationwide transition to circularity.
Partners: Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC, Kingspan Insulated Panels UK & Ireland, Savills Ireland, IPUT Real Estate Dublin, Walls Construction Limited, BAM UK & Ireland, Madaster (Material passport platform)
Funder: Construct Innovate
We welcome observers and participants who are interested in contributing to this initiative. If you have experience with Material Passports or would like to provide feedback on our upcoming report, we invite you to get involved. Get in touch with Fernanda.
Circular Economy Construction Demonstrator Project
Circular Economy Construction demonstrator project (CE-CON) is an EPA funded project, led by IGBC and with three other project partners: ATU, Limerick Twenty Thirty and SWRMO. During the Opera Square project in Limerick, reclaimed construction materials will be reused onsite and offsite, or be repurposed and remanufactured. In this context, project partners will design circularity interventions to be piloted throughout the project. For more information get in touch with Sinead.
Read the research paper.
This project is funded under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Enterprise Programme, a Government of Ireland initiative.
Transition to a Circular Economy – A Guide For Circular Design
The Transition to a Circular Economy in Irish Construction project, funded by Community Foundation Ireland, is set to officially begin in May 2025. This initiative aims to address the critical issue of waste generation in the construction industry. In 2022, Ireland produced 8.2 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste (EPA, 2024), accounting for over 50% of the national waste. Despite many materials being technically reusable, only 1% of building elements are reused after their initial application. This underscores the need for a significant shift in construction practices, focusing on material reuse and circular design.
Project Goals:
- Developing and Distributing a Transition to Circular Economy Template: A detailed guide that will assist homebuilders in integrating circular economy principles into their projects, focusing on material selection, waste reduction, and design for disassembly.
- Creating and Sharing a Best Practice Document: A comprehensive document highlighting successful examples and strategies for implementing circular economy principles in construction, inspiring the wider industry to adopt these sustainable practices.
- Raising Awareness and Encouraging Industry-Wide Adoption: Through consultations, workshops, and seminars, we will engage members of the IGBC and the broader construction sector to promote the transition to circular economy principles.
Why This Matters:
With the forthcoming changes in the Home Performance Index (HPI), where circular economy principles will be a mandatory certification requirement for the upcoming HPI version 3.1, the project provides a timely opportunity for the Irish construction industry to embrace sustainability and waste reduction. The resources developed through this project will support the sector in adopting these new standards and implementing circular practices.
Next Steps:
- The project will officially begin in May 2025.
- Participate in consultations and workshops to provide feedback and engage with the development of these resources.
- Share this opportunity with others in your network to help drive the adoption of circular economy principles within the Irish construction sector.
We invite all members and stakeholders in the construction industry to participate in this important project. By joining in the consultation and feedback process, you can help ensure that the project’s outcomes are practical, comprehensive, and tailored to the needs of the Irish market. If interested, please contact Fernanda.
PAST INITIATIVES
Construction Materials Exchange Platform
CMEx (Construction Materials Exchange), was a pilot project scheme to demonstrate a feasible, transparent, fair, user-friendly system for the reuse of construction materials that would otherwise enter the waste stream. The project, funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme, identified and track resources through the supply chain; identify the potential value of matching materials, and apply these insights to steer organisational processes towards supporting a circular economy.
The pilot project is now completed but we are thrilled to share that all 500m² of external stone cladding from the Treasury Building facade, listed on CMEx, has been successfully reused! Most of it was repurposed as paving for residential projects across Leinster, while some found new life as kitchen counters, thanks to innovative architects. You can read more about CMEx in this white paper released last year.
CIRCULARLife
As part of the CIRCULARlife Project, IGBC trialled circularity tools with designers to help drive greater uptake and identify the most useful approaches. The application of tools and indicators is a good way of identifying gaps and where the infrastructure is lacking in building a truly circular economy for construction as it immediately identifies what is difficult to apply in the Irish context and why.
As part of this project, funded by EPA Green Enterprise, IGBC created learning materials, delivered webinars, and carried out training workshops with members and others in the sector to assist designers and developers in incorporating circularity into their projects.
Check the Carbon Designer now!