Ivana Mandić shares Outcomes of Circular Economy Week Conference

Ivana Mandić, Sustainability and Energy Analyst at Longevity Partners Netherlands, specialised in Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy, attended a conference as part of the Circular Economy Week on February 10. Taking place in the CIRCL building in Amsterdam, the event was organized by the Dutch ABN Amro bank and attracted a diverse group of experts. Attendees included consultants, bankers, financial advisors, municipalities, architects, professors, and housing corporations from organisations and companies such as the Dutch Ministry of Finance, Municipality of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology, Dutch Green Building Council, Vesteda, Alliantie, and others.

The conference provided a great opportunity to discuss the potential of a circular economy in the built environment, including circular construction, circular renovation, dismantling, and tax incentives that promote the use of circular materials.

The Dutch government has the ambition to build 100,000 new homes every year until 2030. This will lead to a significant demand for materials and consequently to an increase in CO₂ emissions and environmental pollution. Experts claimed that, in order to keep the average global temperature below 1.5 °C, the CO_2eq emissions in the Netherlands should not exceed 909 Mt, based on the number of Dutch inhabitants. Under the business-as-usual scenario, the Dutch construction industry will use up its available CO₂ budget by 2027. This will have a detrimental effect on the average global temperature, as it is estimated to rise more than 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

A circular economy could help solve this issue, as it offers numerous benefits. The circular economy has the potential to create more sustainable and creative jobs. Attendees of the conference also suggested providing tax incentives to encourage the use of circular materials. However, it was also noted that the application of circular concepts in the built environment is challenging due to the associated high cost of labor-intensive activities. Finally, there is a demand for craftsmanship and a need for its training, as well as the application of standardized construction materials.

The transition to a circular economy will require a new legal and financial framework. The concepts of circular economy do not fit the current accounting practices, as it is hard to capture social and ecological value in the balance sheet and profit-loss statement. Lastly, the transition to a circular economy challenges current linear thinking and requires increased awareness of the concept and its implications.

The event was a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to exchange views and share experiences in the transition to a circular built environment. The event emphasised that it is of utmost importance that we incorporate the principles of the circular economy in the built environment. The participants concluded that it is time to implement circular thinking in current practice to accelerate the transition.