BuildZero: transforming the UK's buildings for zero material extraction, zero carbon and zero waste
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Civil and Structural Engineering
Abstract
Buildings and infrastructure are responsible for over 30% of the UK's carbon emissions, produce over 60% of the UK's waste, and consume approximately 50% of all extracted materials globally. Radical change is urgently required to achieve a sustainable construction sector. The circular economy (CE) is a well-recognised opportunity to turn waste into resources while reducing carbon emissions. CE aims to keep materials at the highest value possible, via a hierarchy of strategies, e.g. first prioritising extending the lifetime of buildings, then reusing building elements directly in-situ or on another site, then remanufacturing elements, and finally recycling material to conserve resources and avoid disposal. However, CE is still far from typical construction practice. Action to date has largely focused on one-off case studies of individual buildings, or recycling targets leading to wasteful downcycling, and lacks the national-scale, systems-level impact that is so desperately needed.
BuildZero's vision is one of a building stock that delivers the UK's space requirements but no longer relies on extraction of new resources, by leveraging the CE to meet materials needs, and eliminating both waste and carbon emissions from material extraction and production. Using this highly ambitious end goal as a springboard, we will explore CE solutions across multiple scales, identified, co-created and co-delivered with our highly engaged industrial consortium, assess the extent to which this vision is achievable nationally, regionally and in relation to individual buildings, and determine the conditions in which the BuildZero vision leads to favourable social, environmental, and economic outcomes. This new knowledge base will provide a platform to enable these solutions to be translated into practice at scale, catalysing regional and national policy to stimulate real change.
To achieve this, we will develop an interdisciplinary, multi-scale systems model of buildings and resources flows, focused around four themes:
Theme 1: How does the baseline state of the system, including the interplay between societal attitudes, current materials/buildings and legislation constrain moves towards a co-created vision?
Theme 2: How far can solutions that make the best use of space take us towards this vision?
Theme 3: How far can making the best use of materials, including waste resources, take us?
Theme 4: How can our future needs & potential solutions combine to achieve a BuildZero future?
To tackle these research challenges we will use methods from industrial ecology, to understand material stocks and flows; from architecture, structural engineering, and materials science, to understand the technical potential of CE solutions; from social sciences, to understand social attitudes and trade-offs; and from economics, to understand potential CE business models. As well as conducting novel research in each underpinning area, we will commit significant resources to working with stakeholders to synthesise findings on what a CE for buildings looks like, by creating interactive foresight/backcasting tools, co-creating future scenarios and identifying the actions needed to catalyse change. Demonstrator projects will apply research to specific contexts, generating early impact. We will build a fundamental understanding of how and when to implement CE strategies, investigating economic viability, social inclusivity, and zero-carbon compatibility, considering these across multiple geographical and policy scales. Our programme of research will culminate in the identification of pathways to achieve the BuildZero vision over different time frames, and a co-created 10 year research roadmap that outlines the remaining work required to deliver a BuildZero future.
BuildZero's vision is one of a building stock that delivers the UK's space requirements but no longer relies on extraction of new resources, by leveraging the CE to meet materials needs, and eliminating both waste and carbon emissions from material extraction and production. Using this highly ambitious end goal as a springboard, we will explore CE solutions across multiple scales, identified, co-created and co-delivered with our highly engaged industrial consortium, assess the extent to which this vision is achievable nationally, regionally and in relation to individual buildings, and determine the conditions in which the BuildZero vision leads to favourable social, environmental, and economic outcomes. This new knowledge base will provide a platform to enable these solutions to be translated into practice at scale, catalysing regional and national policy to stimulate real change.
To achieve this, we will develop an interdisciplinary, multi-scale systems model of buildings and resources flows, focused around four themes:
Theme 1: How does the baseline state of the system, including the interplay between societal attitudes, current materials/buildings and legislation constrain moves towards a co-created vision?
Theme 2: How far can solutions that make the best use of space take us towards this vision?
Theme 3: How far can making the best use of materials, including waste resources, take us?
Theme 4: How can our future needs & potential solutions combine to achieve a BuildZero future?
To tackle these research challenges we will use methods from industrial ecology, to understand material stocks and flows; from architecture, structural engineering, and materials science, to understand the technical potential of CE solutions; from social sciences, to understand social attitudes and trade-offs; and from economics, to understand potential CE business models. As well as conducting novel research in each underpinning area, we will commit significant resources to working with stakeholders to synthesise findings on what a CE for buildings looks like, by creating interactive foresight/backcasting tools, co-creating future scenarios and identifying the actions needed to catalyse change. Demonstrator projects will apply research to specific contexts, generating early impact. We will build a fundamental understanding of how and when to implement CE strategies, investigating economic viability, social inclusivity, and zero-carbon compatibility, considering these across multiple geographical and policy scales. Our programme of research will culminate in the identification of pathways to achieve the BuildZero vision over different time frames, and a co-created 10 year research roadmap that outlines the remaining work required to deliver a BuildZero future.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- Scottish Power (Project Partner)
- Maconda Solutions (Project Partner)
- ReLondon (Project Partner)
- Chartered Institute of Housing (Project Partner)
- Cundall Johnston & Partners LLP (UK) (Project Partner)
- AECOM Limited (UK) (Project Partner)
- Mott MacDonald Ltd (Project Partner)
- Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd (Project Partner)
- Marks Barfeld Architects (Project Partner)
- Useful Simple Trust (Project Partner)
- South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Author. (Project Partner)
- Xtonnes Ltd (Project Partner)
- Enfield Council (Project Partner)
- Simple Works Ltd (Project Partner)
- Laing O'Rourke plc (Project Partner)
- GREATER MANCHESTER COMBINED AUTHORITY (Project Partner)
- Ramboll (Project Partner)
- UK Green Building Council (Project Partner)
- NET POSITIVE SOLUTIONS LTD (Project Partner)
- Multiplex (Project Partner)
- Royal Town Planning Institute (Project Partner)
- Hawkins\Brown Architects LLP (Project Partner)
- Private Address (Project Partner)
- Circular Ecology (Project Partner)
- Aecom (Project Partner)
- IstructE (Project Partner)
- Elliott Wood Partnership Ltd (Project Partner)
- Chapter two Architects Ltd (Project Partner)
- ISG LIMITED (Project Partner)
- Qualis Flow Limited (Project Partner)
- LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM (Project Partner)
- Tata Group UK (Project Partner)
- Waterman Group (Project Partner)
- Toronto Metropolitan University (Project Partner)
- Igloo Regeneration Ltd (Project Partner)
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (Project Partner)
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Project Partner)
- BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL (Project Partner)
- AWW (Project Partner)
- ARUP (UK) (Project Partner)
| Description | ISIE-SEM best practice guidance |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Membership of Standards Committee - CEN/TC 350/SC1 Circular economy in the construction sector |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Responses to call for evidence on Environmental sustainability and housing growth |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | The Grey Belt parliamentary inquiry |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8503/the-grey-belt/publications/written-evidence/ |
| Description | BuildZero Official Launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Over 100 participants signed up to attend the official launch of BuildZero on 7th June 2024. The project was represented by all Investigators of the project, and the event included members of the public, interested parties, academia and stakeholders. It has led to a number of potential collaborations, and opportunities for data sharing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.buildzero.ac.uk/publications-and-events |
| Description | Forum for Circular Infrastructure |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Forum for Circular Infrastructure (FCI), founded and chaired by AECOM, brings together infrastructure owners and operators from across the UK and Ireland to share best practice, facilitate opportunities for collaboration and drive innovation to encourage innovative thinking on a fully circular infrastructure delivery. Approximately 30 attendees meet quarterly. Presented BuildZero. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Panel Discussion: Accurate 'As Built', Real-Time Embodied Carbon Data to Support Scope 3 Reporting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Rick Lupton participated in panel discussion hosted by Causeway, including presenting plans for and engagement opportunities with the BuildZero project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Panel: BuildZero: Making the best use of space and materials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Expert panel which included industry and policy makers at the London Design Festival, which took place at Oxo Tower Platform and Courtyard from the CascadeUp stage. This stage, in the heart of the South Bank design district, provided a centre piece to an exciting area which includes both Material Matters and the Wood Awards. Collectively, all three told a powerful story of a more sustainable, low-carbon future, and showcase the teams working now to make this possible. The London Design Festival was free to the public to attend, but a bookings page for this panel had over 60 registrants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |