Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction (AMRUC)
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Lancaster Inst for the Contemporary Arts
Abstract
The Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction (AMRUC) project will bring academia, practice and industry together to accelerate material re-use in construction, advocate deconstruction of existing buildings instead of demolition (avoid waste) to enable the integration of re-used material into the supply chain.
Embodied carbon in the construction phase of a building's life typically equates to 50%/70% of its total life cycle emissions. Therefore, the focus on embodied carbon is a fundamental step towards meeting the Net Zero targets defined by the UK government. Since 80% of buildings that will exist in 2050 have been already built, it is imperative that we make the most of the material already in existence and avoid exploration of raw materials. Re-use of construction materials is the most energy-efficient solution for a circular economy, ensuring material value is preserved as long as possible. The use of re-used materials in construction has the potential of reducing the embodied carbon of construction and could minimise the extraction and production of virgin materials as well as reducing construction waste.
Within this context, the AMRUC project aims to:
- Accelerate material re-use in construction by evaluating and optimising the use of Orms open source approach for material passporting (OMD);
- Identify the key barriers to material re-use in construction, define a way to reduce risk, increase life span, add value to existing materials and consider different stakeholder's perspectives;
- Produce a policy paper that provides clear recommendations to accelerate material re-use in construction, promote deconstruction and integrate re-used materials into the supply change;
- Disseminate best practices across architectural education, practice and industry to accelerate material re-use in construction and integrate re-used materials into the supply change.
The Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction, uniquely combines the expertise of Dr Ana Costa (Architect, Researcher and Educator) from Imagination@Lancaster - an international leading research institution with the award-winning practice Orms, Designers and Architects ltd that has an extensive experience in Material Passporting and re-use of materials in construction. The research team will collaborate with the Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction Group led by Orms and UKGBC Circular Economy working groups.
Embodied carbon in the construction phase of a building's life typically equates to 50%/70% of its total life cycle emissions. Therefore, the focus on embodied carbon is a fundamental step towards meeting the Net Zero targets defined by the UK government. Since 80% of buildings that will exist in 2050 have been already built, it is imperative that we make the most of the material already in existence and avoid exploration of raw materials. Re-use of construction materials is the most energy-efficient solution for a circular economy, ensuring material value is preserved as long as possible. The use of re-used materials in construction has the potential of reducing the embodied carbon of construction and could minimise the extraction and production of virgin materials as well as reducing construction waste.
Within this context, the AMRUC project aims to:
- Accelerate material re-use in construction by evaluating and optimising the use of Orms open source approach for material passporting (OMD);
- Identify the key barriers to material re-use in construction, define a way to reduce risk, increase life span, add value to existing materials and consider different stakeholder's perspectives;
- Produce a policy paper that provides clear recommendations to accelerate material re-use in construction, promote deconstruction and integrate re-used materials into the supply change;
- Disseminate best practices across architectural education, practice and industry to accelerate material re-use in construction and integrate re-used materials into the supply change.
The Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction, uniquely combines the expertise of Dr Ana Costa (Architect, Researcher and Educator) from Imagination@Lancaster - an international leading research institution with the award-winning practice Orms, Designers and Architects ltd that has an extensive experience in Material Passporting and re-use of materials in construction. The research team will collaborate with the Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction Group led by Orms and UKGBC Circular Economy working groups.
Organisations
| Description | This research provides clear recommendations on how to use materials passports to: • accelerate material reuse in construction, • promote deconstruction over demolition, • increase reused materials into the supply chain, • reduce construction and demolition waste (CDW) • increase end of life value in the built environment and • reduce the need for raw materials and environmental impact. |
| Exploitation Route | The guidance provided on this document is currently being adopted by different practices across the architecture, engineer and construction industry. A Material Passports Policy paper sumary has been produced and shared across the key policy makers at local, regional and national level. |
| Sectors | Construction |
| URL | https://orms.co.uk/insights/materialspassportspolicypaper/#flipbook-df_7067/1/ |
| Description | - Architectural Practices are keen to implement Materials Passports guidance provided on this project's report. - Lancaster Council is planning to create a reuse hub and adpot Materials Passports for reused materials. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Construction |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Imagination Now and Next | Suatainable Futures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ImaginationLancaster - Lancaster University's design and architecture research lab - creates a uniquely powerful socio-technical bridge between academic disciplines, industry, society, and policy. Directly, and through collaboration, our research contributes to a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable world. Join us at the Festival of Futures as Imagination and our partners showcase and explore the transformative power of design research, the difference we have made and how we can collaboratively design for a better tomorrow. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fof2024/imagination-now-and-next/ |
| Description | Reuse Now Webinar: Material Passports |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Join us as we delve into the innovative world of Material Passports, exploring their potential to increase sustainability, improve circular economy practices, and change the future of resource management. Materials passports are comprehensive documents or digital records that detail the composition, origin, usage history, and potential future applications of a particular material or product throughout its lifecycle. They serve as a form of identification and documentation, providing crucial information about the materials used, their characteristics, and environmental impacts. This online event, part of ASBP's Reuse Now Campaign, showcases leaders in the field. They will be presenting the work they have been doing on Material Passports and how that supports a circular built environment, including facilitating the reuse of materials and products. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://asbp.org.uk/events/reuse-now-webinar-material-passports |
| Description | TEA talks | Material Reuse and Materials Passports |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | TEA talks are a series of informal talks from our School of Architecture on the theme of Technology, the Environment, and the role of Architecture, now and in the future. This session will bring together experts from academia, practice and industry to present and discuss what are the key measures to accelerate material reuse in construction, use material passports and create a circular economy. Embodied carbon in the construction phase of a building's life typically equates to 50%/70% of its total life cycle emissions. Therefore, the focus on embodied carbon is a fundamental step towards meeting the Net Zero targets defined by the UK government. Since 80% of buildings that will exist in 2050 have been already built, it is imperative that we make the most of the material already in existence and avoid exploration of raw materials. Re-use of construction materials is the most energy-efficient solution for a circular economy, ensuring material value is preserved as long as possible. The use of reused materials in construction has the potential of reducing the embodied carbon of construction and could minimise the extraction and production of virgin materials as well as reducing construction waste. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE5nPoxPZ70&list=PLs9W2nSJrLpm3tVofYVTr94RJcYTVk_jN |