Circular Construction
Every stage of a product’s lifecycle
Circularity of construction materials is essential to advance Net Zero delivery.
“Industry owes it to society to conserve materials in every possible way.”
Not only for the element of cost in the manufactured article but mostly for the conservation of those materials whose production and transportation are laying an increasing burden on society.
Sound familiar? You could well hear it at an industry event today, however, it was said by Henry Ford, the American inventor and industrialist, in 1926.
Transitioning from a ‘take-makewaste’ linear economy to a circular economy, where waste is designed out and materials kept in use and reused across their lifecycle, is not a new concept. Today we hold the opportunity to drive material circularity across our building and infrastructure assets.
“Reimagining how materials are used to enhance the circular economy, our mission is to recover construction byproducts and waste and to reuse it sustainably to minimise the use of our natural raw materials.”
Steve Birch, Circularity Director
Circular Economy –what Tarmac is achieving
Materials circularity is a significant priority for Tarmac.
We already reuse more waste generated by other people than the volume of waste we produce. In 2022, we recycled 99% of the waste generated across our operations and our goal is zero waste by 2030. Each year we recycle over one million tonnes of recycled asphalt planings in new asphalt – translating to 15% of our asphalt production. We also recycle over seven million tonnes of waste and secondary materials as raw materials or fuels from other sectors. Materials mattered to Henry Ford in the 1920s. In a world transitioning to net zero, they need to matter to all of us today.
99%
We recycle 99% of operational waste
1mt RAP
Annually we reuse over 1million tonnes of Recycled asphalt planings in our asphalt products 7mt
We recycle over 7mt of materials from other sectors
Circular construction strategies across the UK could potentially cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50%.
Annually, we use over 7 million tonnes of waste and secondary materials from other sectors as raw materials in our products and as fuel for our manufacturing processes.
6 key elements of construction materials circularity include:
Design for Reuse and Recycling
Buildings and materials are designed to be easily dismantled, allowing components to be reused or recycled at the end of their life.
Material Efficiency
Reducing the amount of material used during construction without compromising structural integrity and using materials that have a lower environmental footprint.
Recycling and Reprocessing
Materials are recycled or repurposed instead of being sent to landfills.
Use of Renewable or Recycled Materials
Prioritising materials that are renewable, such as asphalt planings, or materials that have been recycled from other projects.
Extending the Life of Material
Ensuring that materials can be maintained, repaired, or upgraded to extend their lifecycle, reducing the need for replacements.
Reducing Embodied Carbon
By reusing materials or using lowcarbon alternatives, circularity can help to reduce the emissions associated with the production and transport of construction materials (embodied carbon).
The overall goal of construction materials circularity is to create a closed-loop system where resources are continually cycled back into use, lowering environmental impacts, cutting waste, and reducing reliance on new material extraction.
Designing out waste
Our approach to the circular economy starts with designing out waste from our own operations. Where feasible, unavoidable waste generated by our manufacturing process is reused or recovered internally. Different kinds of materials can be used in various ways to create secondary or recycled materials for use in our processes and products.
With our product knowledge and expertise our technical teams can support our customers to design our waste through purposeful design, doing more with less and extend the life of the buildings and assets built with our products through enhanced durability, designing for reuse and repurposing, and facilitating recycling into new products.
Using recycled materials in construction
Alternative raw materials, waste materials and by-products from other sectors serve as valuable raw materials to replace a portion of the finite virgin materials or clinker used in our cement manufacturing. These co-processing materials currently include fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and quarry overburden. We also utilise other materials such as old road surfacing (Recycled Asphalt Planings, RAP), construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) waste.
Tarmac’s circular economy is a commitment supporting Net Zero construction.
A Framework for sustainability –Circularity in action
Adopting the concept of the circular economy allows a focus on designing out waste from every stage of a product’s life cycle and extending its useful life. The transition to a circular economy requires collaboration across the construction value chain as we seek to eliminate waste from our operations, recycle materials from other industries, and identify opportunities to conserve water. Read more
