On 12th November, the latest Building Insights LIVE round table focused on the circular economy in construction, exploring why progress has remained piecemeal in a sector widely recognised as the UK’s largest producer of waste. Sponsored by Soprema UK and Amtico, the session brought together trade bodies, specifiers, consultants and manufacturers to share practical insight into how circularity can be embedded in everyday delivery.
Despite the strong financial, carbon and reputational case for circular construction, delegates agreed that demolition too often remains the default option for buildings deemed to be at the end of their life, rather than reuse or adaptation. This patchy progress was linked to the absence of a clear national direction, with the Government’s long-awaited circular economy strategy still delayed.
Discussions explored real-world approaches, from improved recycling of construction products to the retention and reuse of existing structures. While positive examples were highlighted, there was broad agreement that the market currently lacks sufficient incentives or regulation to drive circularity at scale. ESG commitments remain a driver for some major clients, but this has yet to result in consistent, industry-wide adoption.
Manufacturers outlined ongoing work on life cycle assessment (LCA), material transparency and recycling, prompting debate about how realistic it is for specifiers to demand truly circular solutions today and how risks and rewards are shared across the supply chain.
The session concluded with a focus on cost-effective, data-led actions that specifiers can take now to help shift the industry away from a linear “take-make-waste” model.
Attendees:
- Ian Pritchett, Co-Founder, Greencore Homes
- Nikhil Doshi, Director, Hodkinson Consultancy
- Nick Haughton, Brand Director, Sapphire Balconies
- Mike Leonard, Visiting Professor, Birmingham City University
- Pauline Metivier, Head of Business & Sector Support, ReLondon
- Debbie Ward, Director, Reuse & Circular Economy, Alliance for Sustainable Building Products
- Simon Foxell, Owner, The Architects Practice
- Stephanie Palmer, Head of Sustainability at Wienerberger
- Edward Jezeph, Senior Manager, Homes England
- Olivia Daw, Materials Audit Lead, Material Index
- Chris Halligan, Chair of the Climate Society, CIAT
- Thomas Hesslenberg, Structural engineer, Elliot Wood
- Michelle Sanchez, Sustainability lead, RSHP architects
- Umendra Singh, Sustainability & Impact Lead, North Europe, Soprema UK
- Gary Wilson, Head of Technical, Amtico
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Tagged
TopicsCircular Economy
OrganisationsAmtico Flooring Soprema