As one of the few industries with a full value chain in Luxembourg, the construction sector, is well equipped to become more circular. Silicon Luxembourg caught up with Charles-Albert Florentin, Luxinnovation’s Cleantech cluster manager to discuss circular buildings, the state of innovation and the need for more financing.
What does one have to consider when trying to construct a building with circular construction principles?
It all starts at the design stage. New constructions should be designed differently, focusing on durability and flexibility while also anticipating the renovation and end of life of the buildings. Deconstructability becomes a key aspect in the transition towards a more circular economy, with a focus on reused products and materials.
Luxinnovation is addressing this topic with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), through a deconstruction platform project developed with private and public stakeholders. Making use of building information modelling (BIM) is also essential to help streamline this process and contribute to the overall materials and energy efficiency of the construction sector.
Finally, the move towards higher levels of sustainability and circularity of materials and products should become a priority. For example by adopting glue-free assembly systems, by installing easily dismountable materials and equipment and by using natural products and recycled materials.
When can you say that a building is fully circular? What circularity principles need to be respected?
It’s rather complicated to apply all circularity principles – extended usage phase, increased durability, adoption of C2C (cradle to cradle) materials, zero waste production, etc. – at once because among other things, technical barriers might exist and legislation is not yet all settled in favour of circularity. Developers should preferably select and focus on some aspects of circularity related to the vision and objectives of their project.
Moreover, it is still difficult to know precisely what kind of products and materials have been installed in a building as they are not yet registered in a materials passport. The future implementation of the Product Circularity Data Sheet developed by the Ministry of the Economy is however a precursor to collect relevant data for a circular economy and a first step to set up a materials passport in Luxembourg.
What circular construction techniques do you think will be impactful in the future?
Prefabricated modular buildings, techniques related to flexible usage and spatial adjustments will become more and more common. They will answer the quest for adaptability with redistributed work patterns, longer-term usage and savings in increasingly expensive energy and materials costs.
“The move towards higher levels of sustainability and circularity of materials and products should become a priority.”
Charles-Albert Florentin, CleanTech Cluster Manager at Luxinnovation
What needs to happen for circular economy principles to become more widely adopted in Luxembourg?
For circular economy principles to be more widely adopted, firstly, profitable circular business models need to be implemented. The current situation involving resource constraints and price inflation will help support the trend for more value capture.
Secondly, innovation in products, services and processes is already making certain circular practices competitive and more sustainable. Regular exchanges and synergies between the regulators, professional organizations, research institutes and the industry will also support concrete innovations.
Thirdly, the participation of stakeholders from the social economy is essential and fourthly, the establishment of favourable regulations for circular construction will strongly support the circular economy in the country.
What are Luxembourgish Cleantechs doing to transition towards a circular economy?
Cleantech companies are actively working on innovative products and services related to digitalized conception, mixed-construction, HVAC equipment, maintenance and deconstruction.
For example, the conception of upgradable windows, the production of compact low consumption ventilation systems, reusable partitions, etc.
Luxinnovation is supporting these innovations through its Circular Construction flagship project and co-financing by the Ministry of the Economy of R&D and environmental protection projects.
Concrete is a big emitter of CO2. What progress is Luxembourg making on that front?
Clinker production is indeed a high emitter of CO2 and concrete production requires large volumes of virgin aggregates. Considering existing buildings as material banks, likely to provide recycled aggregates in the future, is therefore an interesting option to explore further.
In order to evaluate the future volumes and qualities of aggregates available in the country, as well as existing recycling and decarbonization technologies, Luxinnovation has planned to launch this year a feasibility study in partnership with different ministries (Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning and Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development), LIST and key players in the market.
When it comes to Cleantech, Luxembourg is lagging behind its neighbours. What can it do to catch up?
Luxembourg could further support technological developments in the Cleantech sector by providing additional private and public capital investments. Co-financing by the Ministry of the Economy of environmental protection projects can, for example, be further deployed and promoted.
Dedicated research in the field of energy production and storage, water reuse, dismountable and upgradable construction systems can be strengthened too.
More innovative collaborative projects on eco-conception, reuse platforms and waste recycling can be put in place in order to foster the development of circular products and services.
This article was first published in the Silicon Luxembourg magazine. Read the full digital version of the magazine on our website, here. You can also choose to receive a hard copy at the office or at home. Subscribe now.
