UK construction industry meets to discuss circular economy

UK construction giants will meet next week to pool the latest thinking and progress towards adoption of the circular economy in the built environment.

Representatives from Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska, Lend Lease, Willmott Dixon, Keepmoat, WRAP, Balfour Beatty, Saint-Gobain and more will meet to hear presentations from Ken Shuttleworth of MAKE Architects, Jonathan Cullen of UK Indemand and Graham Hilton Co-founder of RE-Fab and Director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASPB) on innovative strategies to increase resource efficiency in buildings.

“Collaboration across the entire supply chain is absolutely critical if the UK is to deliver a low carbon, resource efficient built environment,” said Stephen Gee, Co-Founder & Event Director, Resource. “The interest we’ve seen from some of the industry’s biggest players to unite in this way is very positive and demonstrates a clear commitment from the construction industry to close the loop on its business models and develop resource efficient practices across the sector.”

The meeting aims to discuss means of reducing the materials impact of building design and building life cycles, looking at materials, water and energy. This is in line with the Government’s Construction 2025 action plan and in support of the goal of reducing emissions from the built environment by half by 2025. One of the challenges is to change the model of the construction industry from ‘make, use and break’ to a more resource-efficient model.

Executive Chair of the ASBP, Graham Newman said: “Great strides have been made in energy efficiency in recent years, but when it comes to resource efficiency the feet of the construction industry remain firmly stuck. But this is set to change!”

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/11092014/uk-construction-industry-meets-to-discuss-circular-economy-466/