The following publication provides an overview of why the cement and concrete industry is central to the circular economy and what can be done to leverage the opportunities.
The most used resources in the building sector, such as sand and metals, are non-renewable resources. Extracted, transported and processed in ever-increasing quantities, at ever-higher energy costs and with consequences which are far from negligible for the environment, their use does not fit with a sustainable logic. Thinking in terms of circular economy prompts us to take another look at these linear and consuming models, at both the level of materials for building, energy, land, and that of waste management.
The cement industry and LafargeHolcim under the Geocycle brand, have developed strong expertise in coprocessing. This latter refers to the simultaneous recovery of energy and the recycling of mineral materials within one single industrial process: cement manufacturing. This waste treatment solution allows 100% of the material input to be recovered or recycled in the production process.
Cement and Environment Labour Foundation (CEMA Foundation) was created by Oficemen (Spanish Cement Association) and the two largest trade unions operating in the Spanish cement industry, CCOO de Construcción y Servicios and UGT-FICA, Federación de Industria, Construcción y Agro.
Covestro has developed an innovative technology that allows using CO2 as raw material for the production of chemical building blocks for high-quality plastics.
Circular Glasgow, hosted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, will connect with companies across the city helping them to open up new revenue streams, increase competitive advantage and realise financial savings using a range of practical tools.
Take Back Chemicals is innovating by proposing a 'functional economy' business model in the use of chemicals. Traditional business models are based on sales per volume, whereas TBC uses "chemical leasing" and regeneration process for greater efficiency and sustainability.
The report is based on the study of 3 cases in Belgium and 5 cases in the Netherlands with leading chemical industries.
The GtoG project has put in place an integrated approach to construction and demolition waste by holistic management, starting from the major refurbishment/demolition sites to the reincorporation of the recycled gypsum in the manufacturing process via the processing of gypsum waste as a secondary raw material
