Study: B+L study Sustainability in the construction industry: circularity and the GreenDeal Germany

The issue of sustainability has become an essential part of the European construction industry in recent years. The demands on the supplier industry on the one hand and the constructed buildings on the other hand have continuously increased. Reducing the impact on climate change or related issues such as saving resources are the main drivers. The need for change is illustrated by the following figures: the United Nations puts CO2 emissions from existing buildings and construction activity at 37% of global emissions. A comparable figure (buildings and construction: 34 % of global consumption) is obtained when looking at global energy consumption.

In 2019 and 2021, B+L has already examined the topic of sustainability in detail for Germany and other European markets. The new B+L study on sustainability in the construction industry will be published in May 2023. Under the title "Sustainability in the construction industry: circularity and the European GreenDeal", the study focuses on two topics:

The European GreenDeal, which was already presented in its outlines in 2019, pursues the goal of climate neutrality by the year 2050. The resulting specifications and guidelines already have an impact on the construction industry today and will continue to significantly shape the industry in the future. The study examines in detail

• the successes achieved so far in implementing the guidelines
• the requirements that will be imposed on the building supply industry and on constructed/refurbished buildings
• the effects on building investments and product demand
• the opportunities of innovative approaches such as serial refurbishment
• Challenges in implementing the specifications (keyword: craft capacities)

In many cases, the specifications for the building sector focus on energy savings (through sustainable building technology or insulation measures) and the use of non-fossil energy sources. But the goal of climate neutrality can only be achieved if the building industry thinks circularly and the circular economy is strengthened. About 10 % of global CO2 emissions are caused by the production of building materials made of concrete, steel or aluminium or by the production of bricks and glass. Unlike the topic of energy efficiency, the circular construction industry is often not the focus of debates and there is still a lot of potential for expansion. The study therefore examines, among other things:

• to what extent and in what proportions recycled raw materials are currently used in building products (for example in concrete, plasterboard, floor coverings, insulation materials)
• what opportunities or restrictions exist with regard to recycled building materials on the part of building regulations
• how much material is actually reused after the deconstruction of a building (down-cycling vs. re-cycling)
• what systems are in place to take back and process building materials (either by industry or other actors).

In addition to these focal points, the new study (as in previous years) examines the importance of sustainability aspects in the selection of products and materials as well as the willingness to pay more for sustainable products. The results are prepared separately for the target groups architects/planners, construction companies/processors and clients (private/institutional). The comparison with the studies of the years 2019 and 2021 also shows trends over time.