Circular construction is building with a better, more economical use of resources. After all, the production of construction products has a major impact through the extraction, processing and transport of raw materials and end products. In addition, a lot of waste is generated during production, on construction sites and during demolition work. About 30 to 40% of our waste comes from construction. The way we build and live also has a major impact on our carbon footprint. That is why a joint transition to circular construction makes a big difference. Circular construction is realized through intense colaboration by designing smarter and closing loops. On this page, the focus is on circular procurement in construction.
On 22 February 2019, Koen Van den Heuvel, the Flemish minister of the Environment, Nature and Agriculture, launched the Green Deal Circular Construction , an initiative by Flanders Circular, OVAM and the Flemish Construction Confederation. With this joint commitment, construction companies, building material manufacturers, local and regional authorities, private builders, researchers and other organisations will work together to make circular construction in Flanders a daily reality in the future. All learnings will be shared on the new website about circular construction.
A first question is whether efforts can be made to improve (part of) an existing building, or whether deconstruction and/or new construction are necessary. LCA and LCC can help to make this trade-off. In addition, factors such as historical value, budget and the condition of the building can also have an influence. Next, location and access to nearby (sub) infrastructure are important to consider.
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Increase the share of recycled content: a market survey will provide insight into the most recent developments and the % recycled content you can ask for in your specifications.
Increasing the share of biobased content: consider biobased alternatives. A market consultation can provide insight into what is possible for the specific functional need.
Energy consumption: the energy consumption during the operation of (office) buildings has a very large environmental impact. Lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation contribute most to this. The impact is mainly determined by the thermal efficiency of the building.
Transport: Heavy construction materials and raw materials are often transported by truck, potentially resulting in significant CO2 emissions. Where logistically feasible, rail and waterway can form an alternative. Good planning, so that trucks do not run empty, can also have a significant impact.
There are a number of options, each of which have benefits and disadvantages. The sequence of the procurement activities can have a major impact on the result, especially due to the influence it has on the cooperation between the different actors. It is also important to consider when and how circular criteria can best be integrated into the procurement journey. In any case, it is advisable to already shape the circular ambitions in the internal project planning phase and to communicate them in the specifications.
Employer design (classic): A design team is first appointed via a request for quotation or competition. Clearly state the circular ambitions in the description of the assignment. On the basis of the design of this design team, award criteria are then drawn up for the appointment of a main contractor. In a one-step procedure, it is important that the contractor understands the circular requirements well and is able to comply with them. It is also possible to follow a two-step procedure, in which the builder and main contractor jointly appoint the main subcontractors. With this contract form, contractors can provide cost-effective and innovative answers.
Integrated Design and Build (DB): One integrated team is appointed, which includes both the design team and the building contractor. Thereafther a design is chosen. This contract form can reduce risk and uncertainty in innovative projects. It provides more flexibility to meet the client's performance requirements, which means that these must be carefully defined and that the circular requirements and wishes must be included.
Construction team: The plans are made by a designer (architect and possibly an engineering office) and contractor together, the latter contributing his technical knowledge and practical experience. This lowers the risk of difficulties during execution. This construction team assists the client during the design phase and is then dissolved. The client then appoints a contractor to carry out the construction.
Design, Build & Operate (DBO): In this contract type, the client lays down detailed functional specifications, after which a DBO contractor is selected. This person is responsible for the building during the defined concession period (usually 20-30 years). The financial agreement for the use of the building by the client is included in the contract. Many of the risks are therefore transferred to the 'operator'. These types of assignments are often taken on by consortia or special purpose vehicles that bring together different parties: contractors, investors, specialized subcontractors and service providers. When using this contract type, it is important to prioritize circular requirements in the initial contractor selection procedure. A specific form of this contract type is an Energy Performance Contract agreement. A package of renovation works is put out to tender to reduce the energy consumption and/or CO2 emissions of a building.
Facilities management: the management and maintenance of the building can be carried out by the client, or be outsourced in a separate contract to a specialized company. This can include, among other things, energy, water and waste management. It is important to include sustainability requirements in the specifications. Bonus and/or penalty clauses can also be used.
Source: EU GPP Guidance
To make a circular construction project a success, it is important that the client forms a good team with all the actors involved. Much more than in traditional projects, the architects, engineers stability and techniques, contractors, suppliers, maintenance personnel, end users,... must stive for the same - circular - ambitions and make sure that everyone's needs are considered. It is therefore important to clearly communicate the circular ambitions of the client from the start. And to select a team that wants to work together to realize those circular ambitions. Here, the mindset is perhaps more important than experience.
The law on public procurement obliges to award to the most economically advantageous bidder (MEAT). The price however, may be calculated on the basis of the life cycle of the product - the Life Cycle Cost. In addition to the acquisition cost, the operating costs and adaptation costs are also charged (Total Cost of Ownership). But the external costs for the environment and society can also be included. There are some tools on the market that can help with this, such as Totem, Level(s) and the Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) database, but also more commercial LCC/LCA tools.
It is important to make an inventory of all materials and products present. This encourages reuse and simplifies selective demolition. Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools and material passports can be used for this.
A healthy and attractive environment can help extend the life of the building and minimize the need for renovations. A healthy building with good indoor air quality and sufficient daylight also ensures higher productivity among employees and less sick leave. It is therefore important to require that toxic substances are avoided at the tender stage. Attention to climate control, daylight avoiding the influx of polluted air in the design also has a major impact on the well-being of users. In addition, nature-based solutions also have a positive impact, both on the well-being of users and on biodiversity. Think of green roofs, living walls, inner gardens, rainwater infiltration systems,... Moreover, these solutions can also increase the thermal efficiency and indoor air quality.
Information about circular procument and example cases per specific product category.