While increasing the sustainability of concrete has understandably been a key focus for the construction industry, it’s not the only one. There’s also been a lot of discussion about the many millions of tonnes of waste the industry produces worldwide. It’s a growing problem that hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. And it’s led industry professionals to talk more about circular economy solutions.

After all, the number of resources being used up and left for waste is quickly outstripping how much material the planet can regenerate.

To prove this, the non-profit organization Global Footprint Network showed that each country would need multiple Earths to use up to cope with the amount of consumption occurring. The United States of America (USA) would be the highest, requiring at least 5.1 Earths. Just under that were Australia and Russia, which would require 4.5 and 3.4 Earths respectively.

But circular economy solutions can combat this concern. They provide people in all industries with an approach that centers the need for waste and pollution elimination and repurposing used materials.

While it does require an overhaul to how many construction projects are handled, it could be very advantageous to do so. For instance, Holcim’s CEO, Jan Jenisch, notes that it could reduce more than 30% of building carbon emissions and increase the number of job opportunities.

It’s an appealing thought. But how could those of us in concrete construction contribute to making it happen?

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