The Hard Hat Professional

If the built environment wants to decrease both waste and emissions while keeping up with growing demands, it needs to rethink its approach to construction. One way to approach this is for the industry to adopt and maintain a circular economy model – which prioritizes the regeneration and reuse of building materials. According to Summit Rosenberg an associate at KOMPAS VC, industries like concrete and aluminum are demonstrating the economic, sustainability, and efficiency benefits of adopting a circular economy model. The concrete and cement industry, for example, has successfully integrated waste streams from other industries into its supply chains, enhancing its circularity. Despite the industry's existing circularity, with 75% of produced aluminum still in use, stakeholders recognize the need to address the remaining unrecycled low-grade aluminum scrap. Scaling reclaimed materials and ensuring their safety and compliance with building codes pose significant challenges. To overc