VIEWPOINT


MOVING IN A CIRCULAR MOTION


Chris Stanley, Housing Manager at Modern Masonry: The ‘circular economy’ has gained increasing prominence in the construction and manufacturing industry


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he debate can often be assumed to be led by academia, but the reality is that the concrete block sector is already playing an active role in reducing waste and recycling; our products also contribute to long-life buildings that are robust enough to be adapted to extend the life of the building and enable refurbishment; all principles of the circular economy.


All-round thinking


Fundamentally, the circular economy looks to move beyond the long-existing, linear approach to manufacturing in which raw material is extracted, made into a product and scrapped at the end of its life. This is neatly summed up by the following mantra: ‘Take, Make, Dispose’. The circular economy aims to minimise waste by making resources work far harder, during and beyond their lifecycle. There are many benefits, especially for


construction material manufacturers, of moving towards this model. It has the potential to reduce negative impacts on the environment, relieve pressure on the raw materials supply chain, increase competition, encourage innovation and, importantly, provide a much needed boost to economic growth. The European Parliament has predicted that wide-scale adoption of the model could save businesses 600 billion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2-4% and potentially create 580,000 jobs.


Pillars of wisdom


The core aim of the circular economy is to design out waste and keep products and materials in use.


At the Concrete Block Association, there is a proud history of commitment to sustainability, with members being part of the British Precast Sustainability Charter. Members of the Concrete Block Association understand the importance of resource efficiency and already utilise recycled and secondary materials in their products, as well as an excellent record of recycling their own process waste. We are extremely proud at over 85% of our members’ production is covered by the Environmental Management standard ISO 14001. Environmental management not


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only helps with environmental permits and law compliance but also drives continual improvement and enhancement of performance. Furthermore, it is not widely known that at end of life concrete blocks are 100% recyclable, so they can be repurposed after their initial lifecycle.


A positive message There are many positive stories coming from the UK concrete industry overall. Manufacturers are more conscientious than ever before about the need to work in a sustainable way.


Here a handful of key facts and figures which put the sterling work of the of the


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You have a responsibility to advise, inform and sell your clients the most sustainable material options on the market


concrete aggregates, expanded clay, china clay waste, limestone fines & lime, recycled glass, recycled sand, waste granite aggregate (including dust), and reclaimed waste furnace bottom ash and fly ash used as filler. It’s a significant achievement and part of an ongoing process which will benefit both the built environment and society as a whole.


A new lease of life


industry into perspective, demonstrating how we champion sustainable approaches and encourage others to follow suit: • Recycled and secondary aggregate makes around 28% of all aggregate used in the UK today.


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• Over the last 12 years, concrete waste sent to landfill from precast concrete factories went down from 6 kg per tonne of production to less than 0.25 kg/ t, so 250 grams.


• Over 99% of concrete waste generated in precast factories is recycled into new precast concrete products or transported off-site for use in other applications.


• The amount of concrete waste generated by precast concrete factories has gone down by 18% since 2008.


• Recycled and secondary aggregate makes around 16% of all aggregate used in the production of precast concrete products in the UK.


• Secondary and recycled aggregates used in precast concrete factories include recycled


Many concrete blocks are repurposed for recycled concrete blocks, which can be incorporated back into the built environment. There are many uses from groundworks and piling mats through to landscaping. Crushed and used as recycled aggregate, they are suitable for a range of applications. Significantly, concrete blocks are perfectly suited to being produced and recycled according to the circular economy model. Also unlike timber building materials, at the end-of-life of a structure concrete does not have the potential to release CO2 into the atmosphere. On the contrary, concrete actually absorbs CO2 when it is crushed and processed at the end-of-life of a building - this process is called carbonation.


A part to play


So why is the circular economy and its adoption in the construction materials industry of importance to builders’ merchants? Simple, in my view; I think that you have a responsibility to advise, inform and sell your clients the most sustainable material options available on the market. Across the sector, we all have a duty to improve the environment we live in, ecologically and socially. Now builders’ merchants have the opportunity to play an active part in the circular economy, by sourcing long-lifespan materials which are 100% recyclable. It is only through this model that we can ensure a built environment which will not negatively affect future generations.


Looking ahead, I find it hugely encouraging to see more and more professionals in the construction industry, understanding the importance of adopting a whole-life approach to tackle the sustainability challenges we face. BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2019


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