Circular Economy in the Construction & Demolition Sector: an analysis of enablers and barriers for recycling thermal insulation materials and research agenda
Abstract
Global production and consumption of goods are increasingly unsustainable. In this regard, the Circular Economy (CE) is a model for resource efficiency and waste minimization that supplants the current problematic take-make-waste linear model. Due to its significant impact on the environment, the construction and demolition sector represents an ideal testbed to experiment with, and scale up, CE interventions. Insulating buildings is vital for reducing buildings’ environmental impact by reducing energy demand associated with heating and cooling. However, the composition of performant thermal insulation materials (IMs) poses challenges for their recycling. Research is needed to identify and overcome the barriers obstructing IM circular management. This study examines the drivers of, and barriers to, circular management of expanded polystyrene and stone wool insulation. The research contributes an original analysis of the IM value chain, collecting insights through a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and a workshop. We i) highlight research gaps based on scientific literature, ii) highlight roles and potential agency of actors involved in the value chain of IMs, iii) elicit enablers and barriers for their recycling, iv) suggest interventions for tackling the current challenges faced for the recycling of thermal IMs, and v) put forward a research agenda.
Author(s)
| Name |
Affiliation |
|
Valeria Superti
|
EPFL |
|
Tim Forman |
University of Cambridge |
|
Cynthia Houmani |
|
|
Claudia Binder
|
Ecole politechnique federal de Lausanne (EPFL) |
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