Reverse local construction supply chains for the beautiful re-assembly of reclaimed construction products

The move towards increased renovation and the greater reuse of construction products in the built environment[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] has created a growing interest in new business models and approaches centred on modularity, adaptability, disassembly, and sufficiency[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]]. Whereas significant research and practice has focused on the disassembly, collection, sorting, and re-processing of construction products, less attention has been directed so far to their later re-assembly.

The re-assembly stage is key for the re-integration of increasing quantities of reclaimed[[ Reclaimed construction products are understood to include secondary ones that are auxiliary to the primary structural construction components, such as insulation, cladding, tiles, nails, bolts, decorative elements, etc.]] construction products into new applications. Concurrently, the endeavour to transform the built environment along the New European Bauhaus values[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] of sustainability, inclusion, and beauty creates opportunities to re-think how to re-assemble reclaimed construction products safely and creatively in ways that increase the aesthetic and cultural value of buildings and infrastructures, enhancing inhabitants’ well-being and living conditions.

The re-assembly of safe and sustainable reclaimed construction products requires solid knowledge of their historical uses and characteristics as well as traceability of their condition and displacement. Digital tools and technologies such as Digital Product Passports and reverse construction supply chains[[ Additional information at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705817360265]](se abrirá en una nueva ventana) following the circular economy’s[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] cascading principle for bio-based materials[[ See Guidance on cascading use of biomass with selected good practice examples on woody biomass]] and 10R-Strategies (refuse, reduce, resell/reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, repurpose, recycle, recover, re-mine)[[ See Chapter 3 ”Conceptualization of Circular Economy 3.0: Synthesizing the 10R Hierarchy of Value Retention Options” in]] for non-biobased materials, are key for the effective management, movement and reuse of safe reclaimed construction products.

Local reverse construction supply chains that re-circulate safe construction products as locally as possible have the potential to maximise economic value and resource utilisation, reduce waste, pollution, energy use, procurement costs, and the environmental footprint of construction and renovation activities, and foster creativity and innovation towards greater circularity and the regeneration of social and cultural meanings in the built environment.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Explore at least one innovative approach, method, or technique to re-assemble construction products in ways that increase their embedded economic and environmental value and the aesthetic value of buildings and building ensembles by exploring existing aesthetic and cultural standards in the built environment.
• The proposed innovative solution(s) should consider the reassembled construction products’ environmental footprint and the availability of reclaimed construction materials and components at neighbourhood, local or regional level. Proposals should build, where possible, on existing circular construction product pooling networks and platforms, construction logistics hubs as well as informal markets for reused construction products.
• Validate how the proposed innovative solution(s) create new value, revenue streams and business opportunities, building, wherever possible, upon existing research on related business models in the field.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach[[ See definition on NEB working principles in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] through the integration of different actors (such as public authorities, local actors from the targeted neighbourhoods, civil society, private owners, material suppliers, etc.) and disciplines (such as architecture, urban design, design, arts, (civil) engineering, economics, finance, business, etc.).

Proposals are expected to dedicate at least 0.2% of their total budget to share their intermediate and final results and findings with the Coordination and Support Action 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' (HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03).