The art of circular thinking

Climate changes and scarce resources call for far better utilisation of the buildings we normally demolish and the materials we discard, even though they have a potential for a new life. However, this is not an easy task. Issues like environmentally dangerous substances and the lack of proper documentation pose a challenge – but it should not stop us from trying.

We must become better at preserving instead of demolishing, and we must recycle materials on a larger scale, which requires an effort from all links in the value chain.

As bio-based materials such as timber make an entrance in the construction business, the next important step will be to examine the construction parts consisting of materials that do not necessarily have a low carbon footprint by nature. They will be the most challenging item in future buildings’ climate report.

The extensive transformation that our energy supply is facing and the ongoing expansion of infrastructure require similar attention to maximum utilisation of the resources available.

That is why circular thinking is an important beacon in Artelia.