Applying circular principles in an airport environment is not straightforward. The infrastructure is complex, highly regulated and operates continuously. Standard solutions rarely apply. What is needed are approaches that work within these constraints while still enabling progress. The guidance developed through the TULIPS project provides this direction. It translates circular construction principles into practical frameworks that support decision making in real airport contexts, helping move from isolated pilot projects toward a more consistent and scalable approach.

Hundreds of sources and thousands of best practices have been tested and refined through validation workshops with practitioners at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Avinor Oslo Airport.

It is built around five pillars:

• Circular design: Make 'build less, build smarter' the default, locking in material efficiency, flexibility and reuse from the start. 
• Circular construction: Turn circular design into real outcomes on site through procurement, logistics and execution. 
• Smart use & transformation: Keep assets and materials in use longer by embedding circularity in operations, contracts and asset decisions. 
• High-value deconstruction: Turn end-of-life into value recovery by planning dismantling and securing reuse before it starts. 
• System & governance: Make circular construction work at scale by fixing governance, finance, risk and system barriers

This guide is relevant to stages including procurement, maintenance, logistics/reuse), sustainability reporting, project delivery and technical design.

See also EU-ATLAS on Circularity in Airports