CIRCONOMY^® Hub "Material Cycles in the Construction Sector"

The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP in Holzkirchen and the Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW in Leipzig are in the process of finding and establishing the CIRCONOMY^® Hub "Material Cycles in the Construction Sector". The tasks of the hub consist of the expansion of a network of physical development centers for building material recycling, as well as in the development of tools and methods to transfer construction waste into equivalent or higher-value recycling processes.

In view of the global scarcity of resources, recycling processes are important levers for the sustainable use of raw materials and materials in general. Nevertheless, only small proportions are currently left in the resource cycle and put to new uses. The increasing cost pressure due to problems in the availability of resources in the construction industry combined with the sustainable finance concept as well as current changes in the legal framework with regard to sustainability act as fundamental drivers.

Recycling must not only become more ecologically sustainable, but also economically advantageous compared to the landfilling of building materials, e.g. by establishing legal requirements and / or by using innovative and more efficient technologies. Developing and testing corresponding processes for the construction industry is intended to form the basis for improved separation, processing and recycling of building demolition, thus closing gaps in the individual material cycles.

The principal objective of the CIRCONOMY^® Hub "Material Cycles in the Construction Sector" is to strengthen sustainability in the construction industry. To reach this goal, a close combination of technological and socio-economic research combined with activities and initiatives for networking and knowledge transfer is required. The CIRCONOMY^® Hub identifies and researches common value cycles across corporate boundaries, finally leading to the development of corresponding processes, materials and solutions to market maturity on a pilot plant scale in prototype labs.

The CIRCONOMY^® Hub "Material Cycles in the Construction Sector" focuses on technological development and anticipates changing overall conditions in order to complete individual value cycles of construction materials. Specifically and among others, this involves the following areas:

• Physical, chemical and other separation processes for compounds and composites
• Recyclable building materials including the development of new, bio-based materials (e.g. alternatives to existing ETICS)
• Sorting and detection systems (e.g. for asbestos) for recycling companies
• Integration of recycling strategies in the design and construction process

In addition, tools and methods will be developed to ensure holistic and optimized material flows in the construction sector.

An overall important mission of the CIRCONOMY^® Hub is the transfer of knowledge and innovation for the addressed technology areas. The hub "Material Cycles in the Construction Sector" forms a link between science, industry and society and organizes the permanent dialogue between the stakeholder groups. Externally, the cluster strives for an international positioning as a network of excellence and innovation for circular economy and bioeconomy.