Funded by

CIRCULARITY IN THE BUILT

ENVIRONMENT IN EUROPE
Opportunities to drive implementation
INDEX
INTRODUCTION 3

WHERE ARE WE NOW: ENABLING CIRCULARITY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 4

THE FOUNDATION 4
CHALLENGES 5
OPPORTUNITIES 7

PATHWAYS FORWARD: ACCELERATING TOGETHER 8

Annexes 9
Annex 1: Key Policy-driven Organizations 9
Annex 2: Key action/impact-driven organizations 13

2
INTRODUCTION
In 2018, the built environment was responsible for resource loss. A collective network approach can help to
approximately 40% of the combined EU27 and UK final bridge the gaps and harmonize the efforts.
energy consumption and 36% of their CO2 (direct and
indirect) emissions1. Furthermore, the construction The urgency is clear, but the hard work starts now.
and demolition sector is the single largest consumer Systemic transformation requires a consolidated approach
of materials on the planet and is responsible for 30% of with broad buy-in from all stakeholders that takes the
Europe’s total waste2. The associated immense ecological entire life cycle of the built environment into account. We
impacts and effects on human wellbeing make the built need to act now and drive implementation to scale across
environment a key leverage point in achieving the goals Europe. So, where do we start?
put forward in the Paris Agreement, along with many other
sustainability objectives. Getting there requires long-term The Metabolic Institute, supported by the Laudes
change and a transformation of the entire sector. Foundation Built Environment Programme, set out to
explore the state of circularity of the built environment
The circular economy presents a viable path to secure in Europe:
resources, limit impact, and promote affordability. • Which building blocks (growing awareness, ambitious
policy shifts, and the amplification of successful local
There is clear momentum and increasing awareness pilots) are already in place, and what is holding back
about the circular economy among stakeholders in the implementation at scale?
sector, catalyzed by the European Green Deal and circular
action plans developed by national, regional, and municipal • What opportunities and considerations for accelerating
governments. Furthermore, the built environment is one of action and implementation do we see across the sector?
the sectors with the highest potential to reach circularity,
according to the World Economic Forum3. However, The resulting snapshot lays out these key challenges,
accelerating the implementation of circularity in the needs, and opportunities regarding circularity in the built
built environment requires bringing scalable innovation environment. It is meant as a resource for anyone active in
to the forefront and informing new ambitious rules the built environment. This exploration served as broader
and regulations. With multiple local and international input in the process of shaping a new program starting
organizations executing and developing parallel efforts to in May 2022: “Accelerating the Circular Economy in the
scale the circular economy in the built environment across Built Environment.”
Europe, there is also a risk of repetition, inefficiencies, and

Our Approach

Metabolic Institute composed this snapshot through desk research, workshops, and conversations with key
organizations and initiatives active in the field of circular action in the built environment in Europe. These include
Pan-European policy-driven stakeholders, alliances, and key impact-driven organizations across scale and
geography (non-profit, commercial, academia, and pilot projects). The selected organizations consist of a mix
of existing partners from the Laudes Foundation network and other key organizations that emerged from desk
research and conversation.

The consulted organizations include:

• Policy-driven organizations: World Green Building Council (WGBC), Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), World
Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Resource Institute (WRI), EIT Climate-KIC
• Impact-driven organizations: Circle House Lab, PRICE, El Poblenou, Promprylad.Renovation, Space&Matter,
German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC)

1
Sufficiency And Circularity
2
European environment agency
3
Built Environment, WEF

3
WHERE ARE WE NOW: ENABLING CIRCULARITY IN THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY: THE FOUNDATION
Scaling circularity in the built environment requires a foundation of policy, physical structures, financial mechanisms,
and platforms for broad collaboration. What can we build on? Where do we see momentum and existing efforts in the
built environment sector in Europe?

Increased awareness:
The built environment industry increasingly recognizes the toll of human activity on climate change and the need for systemic
change instigated by scientific insight. Recent reports published by industry associations, research institutes, and policy-driven
organizations demonstrate a European-level approach. These include Circularity Gap Report 2021, Architecture 2030 by WGBC,
Advancing Net Zero Whole Life Carbon by WorldGBC, WRI’s Zero Carbon Building Accelerator, and others.

Furthermore, the past decade has seen an enormous increase in the bodies of work developing knowledge towards circular
principles of construction (EC, 2015; EC, 2020; RVO, 2020) and optimal cascading use of building materials, as well as
demonstrated case studies for circular buildings. These provide a good starting point for new initiatives.

Ambitious policy pathways:

These policy pathways emerge across scale. To limit global warming to 1.5°C (Paris Agreement), the building sector needs to
reduce its emissions by 77% by 2050 compared to today’s level (IEA, 2021). According to UNEP, 2020, to stay in line with the Net
Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, direct building CO2 emissions need to fall by 50% by 2030, which equates to around 6% per year.
At a European level, the European Commission’s new Circular Economy Action Plan (EC, 2020) is positioned as a key pathway to
achieving the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality target. We see 54%more countries mention the building sector as part of the Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) (UNEP, 2020). Many suggested policy pathways towards decarbonization of the building sector
have been developed to drive the transition forward (WRI, 2019).

Finance and innovative funding mechanisms:

To finance circularity, we see increased availability of green financing, innovative funding schemes, multisector carbon pricing,
among other mechanisms (ENP FI, 2020). 2020; WEF,
Investments
2022). Green
in theinvestments
building sector
in the
have
building
increased
sector
byhave
nearly
increased
40% sinceby 2015
nearlyto40%
$180since
billiontoUSD
2015 $180
in billion
2020 (GABC,
USD in2021).
2020 (UNEP,
This is2020).
aided This
by tools
is aided
for change
by tools
in for
value
change
perception,
in valuesuch
perception,
as the Building
such asValue
the Building
Framework
Value
developed by
Framework developed
The World byEconomic
The WorldForum’s
EconomicNetForum’s
Zero Carbon
Net Zero
Cities
Carbon
program.
Cities
This
program.
framework
This intends
framework
to shift
intends
howtothe
shift
value
how the
of investment
value of investment
in the in
built
thesector
built sector
is perceived
is perceived
and defined,
and defined,
by considering
by considering
the social,
the social,
environmental,
environmental,
and system
and system
performance
performance
outcomes in addition to traditional financial measures.

Existing solutions and frontrunners:

Many innovative solutions to accelerate the circular economy in the built environment already exist. There is a massive opportunity
in amplifying these proven solutions through efficient coordination and cross-fertilization between initiatives across geographies.

Circular economy business models for the built environment have existed since as early as 2016 (RoyalBAM, 2017). More recently,
WBCSD has promoted the business case for circular buildings, exploring the economic, environmental, and social value of the
proposition (WBCSD, 2021).

Building material and system innovations to reduce embodied carbon and other embedded environmental impacts on the life
cycle of building materials have also seen a huge leap over the past decade. There are demonstrated efforts towards developing
low-carbon concrete, bio-based alternatives, and green steel, as well as for mechanisms such as material reuse, urban mining,
modularity in elements, design for disassembly, and more.

Local movement: Many local circular hubs and knowledge platforms exist (Annex II), which provide an opportunity to build a
central platform that monitors their activities, ultimately tracing cumulative action. An initial mapping of solutions that address a
circular built environment demonstrates:
• A high concentration in Northern Europe, with some initiatives and actors in France, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia.​
• Initiatives in Southern Europe emerge from programs led by policy-driven organizations with EU funding. ​
• Global and local knowledge networks such as PRICE, the Fab City network, and CE Hub are already setting examples in
collaborations for designing, developing innovative solutions, and building the local capacity to scale implementation.

4
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY: CHALLENGES
We see increased momentum in policy pathways, and a 1. A need for coordinated efforts between
rich innovation ecosystem is in place in Europe. So, what key stakeholders and a shared baseline
is holding back broad adoption? understanding of what circularity in the built
environment entails
Key findings emerging from our exploration cover the
• City and national governments across the EU are
following themes:
looking towards the circular economy as a way to
Coordinated efforts between key stakeholders and accelerate sustainability efforts, leading to a shared
1
a shared understanding; understanding of CE on a macro level. Yet the shared
2 Shortage of scalable market-ready solutions; understanding of how circular economy solutions can
work at a microeconomic, context-specific, and industry-
Building capacity and necessary skills across the specific level still needs further development. Different
3 sector; organizations are tackling different areas of the industry,
4 Shortfall of capital and financial capacity; and and there is an opportunity to combine the learnings
from these efforts.
A circular built environment requires new rules and
5 regulatory frameworks. • A transition to a circular built environment requires all
stakeholders to take on different roles in the value chain
(see fig.1). There is a need for long-term alliances that
Moreover, the main bottlenecks to implementing a circular
engage key stakeholders in the circular built environment.
economy were noted to have similar underlying roots
Key stakeholders, such as WBCSD and Green Building
for local, national, and European levels. Independently,
Council, can play a central role in empowering industry
these bottlenecks are being addressed by many global
players to effectively adapt their operations to their new
organizations, like Climate-KIC, WBCSD, WGBC, and local
role in the value chain.4
entities, such as the El Poblenou, Promprylad.Renovation,
Space&Matter, and many others.

Stakeholders in the built environment

Key stakeholders

Financial institutions Regulators and Developers Specialised construction Real estate investors
and banks legislators (creating buildings) and installation companies

Suppliers and vendors Deconstruction or Facility managers Wholesale Architects, advisors

demolitioncompanies and engineers

Owners Users Building companies Waste treatment

companies

Figure 1 Key stakeholders in the built environment, derived from Scaling the Built Environment (2018)

4
Scaling the Circular Built Environment, WBCSD

5
2. Shortage of scalable market-level solutions 4. Capital and financial capacity require further
• Every geographical context is different. Local impact- development
driven organizations indicate that it is challenging to • Developing novel and sustainable ways of finance
replicate solutions in other places or projects due to mechanisms and investment models for circular
the specifics of each context and the lack of shared construction, transformation, and deconstruction
infrastructure. projects is vital. These could include incentives, such
• Standardization for the physical performance of bio- as a direct correlation between the amount of secondary
based and secondary materials has yet to be developed material used in the project and the built area that can
across the EU. This results in additional performance be used, or the use of taxes and/or incentives for not
risks associated with using these materials in having demolitions.
construction projects. • The development of green chemistry, which e.g.
• Measurement requirements and standards regarding supports circularity in materials and opportunities for
circular building design differ at the national, city, and desing for disassembly, requires funding and technical
material levels. This adds a considerable amount of capacity.
complexity to implement circular design principles • Despite emerging innovation in circularity across
comprehensively across European projects. Templates regions in Europe, we see a gap in long-term momentum
of measuring methods and indicators enabling private around the funding of CE projects and local projects
sector certification should include CE principles (e.g. and initiatives. The success of these efforts is often
BREEAM). inherent to long and tedious non-standard processes
compared to the more market-ready projects that fit the
linear economic system. Conversely, since innovation
3. A need for building necessary skills and is a lengthy process that carries slow-moving product
capacity along the value chain and among development cycles, it can drive the development of
stakeholders new mechanisms and business models into a system
• Implementing the circular economy across the entire not yet fit to facilitate them.
value chain requires new skills, knowledge, and expertise
in upcycling, material management, and the reuse of 5. A circular economy requires innovative rules
construction elements. Building the necessary capacity and regulatory frameworks
and accessible knowledge base is a crucial factor in
driving forward implementation of CE principles in a • Bringing circular solutions to scale requires new policy
highly regulated, conservative, risk-averse industry. and regulatory frameworks. Built environment decision-
making and goalsetting, however, is typically spread
• Having further insight on which specific enabling across various public departments, whether on the
mechanisms the public and private sectors require to national or city level. This presents challenges regarding
accelerate implementation of the circular economy in the the efficient development of the holistic regulatory
built environment can help accelerate its adoption across frameworks needed to facilitate landing the circular
Europe. These include innovative financing mechanisms, economy in the built environment. In addition, it requires
frameworks regarding rules and regulations, ownership restricting rules and regulations to be terminated.
models, and new materials.
• Impact-driven organizations have been effective
in collaborating with public institutions to develop
regulatory frameworks. However, they often remain
local to regional jurisdictions, limiting their potential
for replication across geographies.

6
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY: OPPORTUNITIES
Based on the engagement of central organizations in the space of decarbonizing European
buildings, we have found strong alignment on opportunities regarding aggregating efforts and
aligning around a common understanding of the circular economy in the built environment.
More specifically:
Collaboratively building a Circular Economy strategy that includes a holistic, systemic narrative together with Pan-European
advocacy and membership organizations, market players, and local impact-driven organizations can be translated to scale on-the-
ground actions. Facilitating this engagement can help increase advocacy and strengthen pressure on those macro barriers that are
holding back scale. It can furthermore help build capacity within policy-driven organizations and amplify success stories from a
local to a global platform.

This is also related to redefining value in the circular built environment. The value of assets and resources should be linked to
demand and performance. Moreover, participation in circular value chains should be incentivized and taken into account through
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and assessment of Scope 3 emissions.

Building new partnerships and strong structures for collaboration can allow for sharing of templates, assets, and knowledge
resources across the value chain and geographies. For instance, WGBC is mobilizing and engaging the global GBC network and
defining metrics that industry, investors, and companies align with for reporting.

The built environment plays an important role in aiding a fair society where space is affordable and accessible to citizens of
different ages and incomes, as well as to companies of different sizes. Including social equity in CE solutions is vital to the
success of CE actions and has the potential to create resilience and trust in the system, ensuring equitable access to common
urban resources.

More opportunities revolve around the scaling of best practices:

Every context is different, and local markets across European regions are at different stages of maturity. Although some solutions
provide great potential for scale, leveraging local value chains and suppliers’ value chains to co-create innovative solutions
tailored to local circumstances is necessary for successful implementation. This also presents an opportunity to incorporate
procurement models at a system level, supplier level, and product level, creating a blueprint of a solution that can help accelerate
its implementation.

Creating common and mutual agreements to implement best practices including business models. Demonstrating business cases
with relevance for decision-makers (investors, developers, entrepreneurs) will enable greater access to investments. This includes
showcasing well-performing buildings on circular criteria that have existed for a long time while promoting renovation and reuse
projects. There is also a need for EU level blueprints for decentralized secondary materials hubs to facilitate. These will ensure
better management and the availability of secondary materials that are required by matching customers. Business models that
incentivize circularity for market players need to be codified and scaled.

Policy-driven organizations, together with municipalities, can scale action by establishing local labs that address the lack of
infrastructure and flagship projects. These can catalyze new relationships between stakeholders and enable replication of these
solutions. Moreover, there is a need to establish innovation labs that can delve deeper into green chemistry and align the best
results with the construction sector.

Policy and regulatory frameworks are crucial to building the enabling context where circular
solutions can land. Opportunities include:
There is a significant opportunity for the EU to consistently integrate “whole-life carbon” in the policy framework5, by leveraging
the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), and the Construction Products
Regulation (CPR).

EU Policies, such as the CEAP6, advocate for maintaining materials in the economy for as long as possible by creating initiatives
across the life cycle of products. This requires maintaining the quality and value of the materials over a longer term, and reducing
the number of hazardous substances in construction materials, allowing for reuse and recycling. For these initiatives to be
successful for the built environment, standardizations need to be developed for material reuse, material recycling, material
passports, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). Developing a regional database to act like a material inventory is required.

5
Whole-Life Carbon: Challenges And Solutions For Highly Efficient And Climate-Neutral Buildings
6
Circular Economy Action Plan, 2020

7
PATHWAYS FORWARD: ACCELERATING TOGETHER
It is clear that the main bottlenecks to implementing in the built environment, these organizations need a
circularity in the built environment have similar underlying solid foundation and alignment to overcome systemic
roots at local, national, and European levels. Separately, challenges regarding financing mechanisms, rules and
these challenges are being addressed by many global and regulations, linear market dynamics, and ownership
local impact-driven organizations that are already leading models. Finally, we need to uncover evidence-based
the way on the ground. So, how do we move forward? To practices and projects put forward by frontrunners that are
achieve circularity at scale in Europe, we need to cultivate already addressing the systemic challenges and determine
alliances, build a common understanding (narrative), and how their solutions can be captured in blueprint projects
amplify proven solutions. that allow these practices to scale across Europe.

Achieving scale requires innovators, frontrunners, and We see true momentum to bridge the gaps between all of
Pan-European organizations to develop a shared vision these efforts, creating a gateway to realizing circularity in
and narrative for what a circular built environment should the built environment. Let’s get going.
look like. To drive broad adoption of the circular economy

8
ANNEXES

ANNEX 1: KEY POLICY DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS

Organisation Type of Expertise Pre Existing programs Knowledge of the Capacity building/
Name organisation (competitions, challenge built environment Educational
funds etc) activities
WRI Global Food, Forests, Water, Cities: WRI Ross Center for Urban Development, Lead partner of the
research Energy, Climate, the Sustainable Cities helps turn Urban Efficiency and Building Efficiency
organization Ocean and Cities. cities into resilient, inclusive, low- Climate Accelerator, an effort
carbon places that are better for of the United Nations’
people and the planet. Sustainable Energy
Works with communities, for All initiative.
businesses and governments to The public-private
understand the new urban reality collaboration
and navigate competing tensions connects a global
so they can adapt and harness network of cities to
the benefits of change. technical expertise
to accelerate
Main projects:
local government
Towards a more equal city report
implementation of
series
building efficiency
Prize for Cities award
policies and
Zero Carbon Building Accelerator
programs.
Buildings Initiative

WBCSD WBCSD is a Sustainable Transforming the Built Workstreams: Demonstrating

global, CEO-led businesses, maximum Environment (within sustainable Circular Built leadership in
organization positive impact for cities workstream) Environment international
of over 200 shareholders, the Recent Reports: Decarbonization negotiations &
leading environment and Digitalization of the built Digitalization processes around the
businesses societies. environment Finance SDGs agenda
working The Building System Carbon Space & Urban
together to Framework Planning
accelerate the Circular Biz Case Report
transition to
a sustainable
world.

Climate Kic Knowledge Creating Networks of Social innovation living lab Convening networks, EIT Climate-KIC runs a
and Innovation expertise in Milan: The Merezzate+ Leveraging Grants, range of inspirational
Community project demonstrates how catalyzing innovation education
urban environments offer the programmes
potential for lifestyles with low across Europe and
environmental impact because online, for students,
high population densities are postgraduates and
suited to sharing transport, professionals. These
energy and other resources. programmes develop
Smart Sustainable District: their participants’
EIT Climate-KIC supports skills and capacities,
international collaborations in the empowering them
area of infrastructure, transport, with up-to-date
utilities and the built environment knowledge and best
practice.

9
ANNEXES

Organisation Type of Expertise Pre Existing programs Knowledge of the Capacity building/
Name organisation (competitions, challenge built environment Educational
funds etc) activities
C40 Provides Cities Climate Positive Development Climate Positive Convenes networks
networks Program (partnership with the Development Program and provides services
Clinton Climate Initiative & the (technical assistance,
U.S. Green Building Council) - facilitation of peer-
aims to create a model for large- to-peer exchange,
scale urban communities and to research, knowledge
support projects that serve as management,
urban laboratories. communications).
C40’s Reinventing Cities
initiative - C40 and these
cities invite architects, urban
planners, designers, developers,
entrepreneurs, environmentalists,
start-uppers, neighbourhood
collectives, innovators and artists
to collaborate and compete for
the opportunity to transform
these sites into new beacons of
sustainability and resiliency.

WorldGBC Non-profit Built environment Advancing Net Zero - aims Green buildings
standards to promote and support the certifications and
acceleration of net-zero carbon standardizations
buildings to 100% by 2050
Better Places for People
- supports GBCs and their
members in increasing the
demand and supply of green
buildings which support the
health, wellbeing and productivity
of people within them.
Building Efficiency Accelerator
- speeds the development and
implementation of building
efficiency policies and practices
in cities around the world.
World Green Building Week -
week involves special events
promoting public awareness of
sustainability and green building
around a selected theme
WorldGBC awards - presents two
major annual awards recognising
the contributions of individuals
to the global green building
movement.

10
ANNEXES

Organisation Type of Expertise Pre Existing programs Knowledge of the Capacity building/
Name organisation (competitions, challenge built environment Educational
funds etc) activities
EMF Foundation Circular Economy Circular Design Challenge - Global view of the CE. The Foundation
Calling designers, entrepreneurs, Partners with other emphasises
academics and scientists to organisations (e.g. interdisciplinary,
rethink the plastics system and Arup, MAVA) when project-based
eliminate plastics packaging making reports about and participatory
waste the built environment. approaches,
encompassing both
formal education and
informal learning.
Higher Education
programmes with
universities in
Europe, the US, India,
China, and South
America, international
curriculum
development with
schools and colleges,
and corporate
capacity building.

ICLEI International Sustainable urban Cultural heritage start-up ICLEI has joined Good with
non-govern- development competition (cultural heritage, a coalition of 31 educational
mental adaptive reuse, inspired by CE stakeholders calling activities and
principles) - The competition on the European awareness-raising.
is being organised by the Commission
CLIC project, in which to deliver an
ICLEI Europe coordinates ambitious EU
“Heritage Innovative strategy for a
Partnerships”, which convene Sustainable Built
representatives from cities Environment
and regions with research (SSBE) as part of
partners. its implementation
CityLoops Project - brings of the Circular
together seven European Economy Action
cities – Apeldoorn, Bodø, Plan.
Mikkeli, Porto, Seville,
Høje-Taastrup and
Roskilde - to pilot a series
of demonstrations actions
to close the loop of two
of the most important
waste streams in Europe:
Construction and Demolition
Waste, and Biowaste. Their
ultimate aim is to become
circular cities in which no
resource goes to waste,
driving the transition to the
circular economy.

11
ANNEXES

Organisation Type of Expertise Pre Existing programs Knowledge of the Capacity building/
Name organisation (competitions, challenge built environment Educational
funds etc) activities
European Not for profit Funding project on The Social Innovation Invests in
Investment the areas of climate, Tournament recognises and educational
Bank (EIB) environment, and supports the best European activities, but
SMEs. It primarily social entrepreneurs. doesn’t organise
funds projects that them.
‘cannot be entirely
financed by the
various means
available in the
individual Member
States. The EIB is
not funded through
the EU budget.
Instead, it raises
money through the
international capital
markets by issuing
bonds.
European Financial Risk finance to
investment institution benefit SMEs
fund (EIF) (public- across Europe.
private) Manufacturing is
one of the primary
industries where
they invest.
ABN Amro Financial “We want to finance Distributes funds
institution real estate that
retains its value for
future generations
and reduces carbon
emissions. We
are keen to play
a pivotal role in
making properties
in the Netherlands
more sustainable,
which we do
by supporting
innovative
developments,
encouraging
redevelopment
and attempting
to increase the
energy efficiency of
existing buildings.”

12
ANNEXES

ANNEX 2: KEY ACTION/IMPACT DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS

Organisa- Country Type Area of Description Network

tion Name Expertise
AMS institute Netherlands Local Circularity in Urban Analyze, design and engineer solutions Network of Institutional
academia Regions towards making cities that are more partners and projects
sustainable, prosperous, resilient and just. partners, mostly local.

Baker Brown UK Industry Net Zero Buildings Experimenting with new designs, materials, Partnering with private
studio player and ways of working, our better-known work clients, enlightened
includes our circular economy-influenced developers, and local
design for London’s Greenwich Millenium authorities
Village, designing The House That Kevin
Built, the UK’s first A* Energy Rated Building,
and creating The Waste House, the world’s
first building made of waste.

Bamb Belgium Project Circular Value In the Project BAMB – Buildings As Material Producers/suppliers
Chains Banks 15 partners from 7 European of building materials
countries were working together with and installations;
one mission-enabling a systemic shift in – construction and
the building sector by creating circular installation firms;
solutions. developers/property
owners/facility managers;
architects/engineers/
advisers; logistics
managers; real estate
consultants and building
owners; recycling
and deconstruction
companies; policymakers;
policymakers; researchers.

Blue city Lab Netherlands Lab Biodesign BlueCity is an exemplary city for the circular Network of education,
economy where entrepreneurs exchange renovation, programming,
their residual flows, making waste valuable network & project partners
raw material. Collaboration, thinking and
getting your hands dirty is essential here.

Bureau SLA Netherlands Industry Architecture As an office, bureau SLA consists of a

player team of architects and builders, supported
by architectural historians, landscape
architects, and energy experts. The studio
does not wait for commissions to be given
but builds and develops in the city in an
innovative way — from their own initiatives
and with their own manpower.

BUUR by Belgium Developers Development BUUR and Urban. Habitat constitutes BUUR
SWECO Part of Sweco. By merging the activities
of Sweco and BUUR we are strengthening
our expertise in terms of strategic and
spatial planning, urban design, mobility,
environment and ecology and the realisation
of public spaces and landscapes.

CB23 Netherlands Lab Research & Drafting agreements for the entire Dutch
policy in the construction sector: both residential and
construction non-residential construction and civil
sector engineering.

13
ANNEXES

Organisa- Country Type Area of Description Network

tion Name Expertise
CC build Sweden On-ground Circular The Center for Circular Construction
actor Construction (CCBuild) is led by IVL Swedish
Environmental Institute and is developed
in collaboration with other parties in
innovation projects. Until September
2022, CCBuild will be developed within the
framework of Vinnova’s Challenge-Driven
Innovation (UDI) program step 3.

CE Hub UK Lab Circular economy The overarching vision of the programme Largest and most
coordinators is to accelerate interdisciplinary research, comprehensive UKRI
innovation and impact to scale up a UK Investment in CE to
Circular Economy. date. Mainly funded by
the NICER Programme.
Partners include Business
school, University of
Exeter, UK Research and
Innovation.

Cinderela Slovenia Project Business Models The CINDERELA project aims to untap this
for Urban potential by developing and demonstrating
construction a new business model (CinderCEBM) to
assist companies in setting up successful
circular economy business cases based
on waste-to-resource opportunities. The
business model will be accompanied by
a “one-stop-shop” (CinderOSS) service
offering all that companies need to know
for manufacturing and application of SRM-
based construction materials in buildings
and civil engineering works.

Circle House Denmark Lab Circular economy Circle House Lab aims to accelerate the
Lab accelerator transition towards a circular economy in
the Danish building industry.

Circulair Belgium On-ground Circular Economy Flanders Circular is the hub and the source Governments, companies,
vlaanderen actor of inspiration for the circular economy in civil society, knowledge
Flanders. world

Circular Slovenia Networking Engagement, A private non-profit organisation with a Huge Cross-sectoral
Change platform co-creation, strong international network serving as Network.
partnership the best entry point for circular economy
projects across Europe.

Circular Finland Project Business in CE The project’s goal is to find new Universities, business
Construction (partnerships, and business activities and business organisations,
Hub Finland cooperation) models in the circular economy as
well as new partnerships and a new
kind of collaboration in the six largest
metropolitan areas.

Circular Germany Industry Practical The Circular Economy Initiative Economic, scientific, and
economy player implementation Deutschland brings together economic, societal stakeholders,
initiative (i.e. collaborative scientific and societal stakeholders. Its Federal Ministry of
Deutschland projects) aim is to develop a joint target vision and Education and Research,
a concrete plan for how the transformation participating companies,
towards a Circular Economy in Germany national and international
could be fostered. experts

Cirkelstad Netherlands Accelerator Platform for Circle City was created between public and
partnerships private entrepreneurs who were looking for
solutions.

14
ANNEXES

Organisa- Country Type Area of Description Network

tion Name Expertise
CRAterre France Industry Earthen CRAterre’s three main objectives are
player architecture and centred on optimizing the use of local
materials resources, human and natural, Improving
housing and living conditions, Valorising
and promoting cultural diversity

Cultural and Finland Project CCSC is a They have already explored new and Seven organisations
Creative policy project groundbreaking methodologies of and institutions are
Spaces and co-funded by the co-creation and participatory policy responsible for leading
Cities (CCSC) Creative Europe development. and organising seven
Programme of the Urban Labs in partnership
European Union. with a number of selected
organisations,

Dark Matter UK, Industry Multidisciplinary Based around collaborative, strategic Global Network
Labs Netherlands, player design team experiments to learn about the ‘dark
Sweden working with matter’ of systems; from policy and
partners, clients, regulation, finance and data, governance
and collaborators and organisational culture, to identity and
democratic participation.

De Architekten Netherlands Architects Architecture We have the ambition to create sustainable Partnership with more
Cie environments for clients and users, and than 50 countries.
for the community and culture in which our
designs are realized.

DGBC Netherlands Local GBC’s Green Building DGBC is the national social organization
that is committed to making the built
environment future-proof at a rapid pace.

DGNB: Germany Local GBC’s Green Building Committed to demonstrably good buildings 1200 members, making it
German Green and urban districts that are worth living Europe’s biggest network
Building in. In straightforward terms, this means for sustainable building.
Council building an environment around ourselves
with foresight

El Poblenou Barcelona Lab Cities and local Connected to Institute for Advanced
living lab in labs engagement Architecture of Catalonia and Fab Lab
Barcelona with SMEs Barcelona, Urban Lab “is a tool to facilitate
the use of public spaces in the city of
Barcelona, to carry out tests and pilot
programmes on products and services with
an urban impact. The idea is to use the city
as an urban laboratory”.

European Global Lab Living labs and The European Network of Living Labs
Network of value proposition (ENoLL) is an international non-profit
Living Labs association that aims to promote
and enhance user-driven innovation
ecosystems,

Global France On-ground Decarbonizing “We choose our projects very selectively Network of living partners,
Building actor Building sector to ensure we work only where we can have Innovation partners and
Performance the greatest impact.” strategic partners (World
Network bank, FAO etc.)

Houseful Austria On-ground Innovative circular HOUSEFUL will design innovative Stakeholder Map
actor solutions and interventions for efficient management of
services for the materials, waste, water and energy along
housing sector the entire housing value chain. This will be
done by demonstrating the feasibility of
an integrated systemic service composed
of 11 circular solutions, which will be
demonstrated in four different buildings
located in Vienna and nearby Barcelona.

15
ANNEXES

Organisa- Country Type Area of Description Network

tion Name Expertise
HPP Germany/ Industry Urban design and “We are an international partnership
Architects International player management composed of 450 architects, interior
designers, town planners, lead consultants
and project managers.”

HuGBC Hungary Local GBC's Architectural HuGBC strength is the market Stakeholder Map
regulation, green stakeholders; policy decisions are made
rating systems without knowing what is happening in the
(LEED, BREEAM, market.
DGNB)

European Italy Networking European CE A platform for Circular Economy Large cross-sectoral
Circular platform Stakeholder discussion and knowledge sharing. Network. supported by
Economy platform ENEA and ENESP
Stakeholder
Platform

Insert Netherlands On-ground Collaboration Insert is committed to creating a better Circular and green actors
actor tomorrow by combating raw material waste in the NL
today. We do this for various sectors, such
as the construction, green and civil sector.
By connecting and providing insight, we
contribute to the highest possible reuse of
materials and green objects.

Kodasema Estonia Industry Architecture, Creates innovative living and housing

player design and solutions. Simplicity and freedom – are the
engineering values that a KODA house offers creating
more energy and time in many ways.

Madaster Netherlands Digital Digital Platform Madaster automatically generates secure,

Platform for online registry web-based passports for registered
for materials and buildings and construction objects. These
products passports contain information about the
quality, origins and location of materials
and products used in the construction of
buildings and other construction objects
and provide insight into the material,
circular and financial (salvage) value of
these properties.

Mae UK Industry Social, Specialists at the forefront of housing,

architects player sustainable and health & care and social infrastructure we
spatial design design at all scales. From the city to the
living room, we apply integrated thinking
to deliver resilient architecture for the long
term.

MIT city Hamburg, Local Stakeholder Interactive stakeholder engagement tool

science lab Germany academia engagement tool that also serves as the platform for joint
that serves as a research of modules for city simulation
platform

Net positive UK Industry Research, They support horizontal and collaborative Handshake Partners: In
solutions player Innovation & approaches over hierarchical total, 37 organisations in
Business models organizational structures 21 European countries are
part of the Urban Labs.

Noordelijk Netherlands Networking Cities & Regions The main goal is to accelerate the 18 organisations
Innovatielab platform transition to the circular economy partnered to include
Circulaire students who, in their
Economie projects work on different
(NICE) social issues.

16
ANNEXES

Organisa- Country Type Area of Description Network

tion Name Expertise
Overtreders W Netherlands Architects Architecture “We make the designs, for a successful
implementation we work with the
specialists from our network - from
builders to image-makers, from
constructors to curators.”

PRICE almere Netherlands Lab Research, Research, Innovation, and materials

Innovation, and
materials

Promprylad Ukraine Developers Stakeholder Stakeholder engagement International government

Renovation engagement (i.e. Gov. Canada, British
Council), investors,
businesses, foundations,
schools, impact hubs. The
Project is implemented
by the consortium of
the strategic partners:
Teple Misto, Insha Osvita,
Beetroot Academy, Pact
Ukraine and LvBS.

ReLondon UK On-ground Waste Waste management

actor management

Saint Gobain Global Industry Sustainable They are both an international and multi-
player Construction local company, fully integrated into the
territories where they operate to support
their vitality and help build a fairer and
more sustainable, open and engaging
world.

Samso - DK Local Phasing out Samsø Energy Academy’s ambition Government visitors,
sustainable academia fossil fuels for is to provide a broader sustainable ~5000 annual visitors
island (Samso renewables, perspective based on the United Nation’s
Energy sustainable 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Our
Academy) management, ambition and intention at the Energy
energy accounting Academy are to lead the way, with Samsø
as a practical example of sustainable
transition. The location and size of the
island, with its 3,700 year-round residents,
is not a limitation. Instead, Samsø provides
clarity that furthers the understanding
of common sense, so the sustainable
transition can be used and applied
regionally, nationally and internationally.

Skanska Global Industry Construction Skanska is a world-leading project

player and project development and construction group,
development building for a better society.

Space&Matter Netherlands Industry Urban Design, Their aim is to discover, design and
player Architecture develop strategies that support a more
democratic, distributed and sustainable
city.

Space10 Denmark Lab Research and Space10 works with a global network
Design of specialists, research partners and
creatives and shares all research and ideas
publicly. They are external and independent
of IKEA but are supported by them.

17
ANNEXES

Organisa- Country Type Area of Description Network

tion Name Expertise
Turntoo/RAU Netherlands Architects Circular Economy Turntoo assists companies and institutions
Architects in the development and implementation of
circular business models and strategies
and facilitates the transition to a circular
economy.

UK Green UK Local GBC’s Sustainable built Collaborate, enable, advocate, inspire 500 member
Building environment organisations spanning
Council the entire sector.
Global network with the
WorldGBC (+70 national
GBC)

Vereniging Netherlands Networking Circular Economy Friesland Cleverly Anticipates What Is To Active and open network
Circulair platform Come And Makes Products From Green of circular precursors,
Friesland Raw Materials, Extracts More From Water including all Frisian
And Sludge, Grows Delicious Products On governments and large
Saline Soil And Surprises With Creative knowledge institutions
Solutions That Fit The Economy Of The
Future.

Videnscenter Denmark Local Knowledge Centre The Knowledge Center for Circular
for cirkulaer academia for Circular Economy in Construction - VCØB - gathers,
oekonomi I construction and develops and disseminates impartial and
byggeriet demolition concrete knowledge about the circular
economy in the construction industry.

WasteBuild UK Digital Building WasteBuild is a year-round platform

Platform partnerships and for showcasing the latest materials,
collaborations techniques, solutions and innovators
themselves that are helping to deliver
circular construction schemes today.

WhatDesign- Netherlands Local Use Design as a They focus on using design as a solution
CanDo academia tool & are impact
focus

Zero Waste Scotland On-ground Zero Waste Will lead Scotland to use products and
Scotland actor resources responsibly. Making Scotland a
pioneer of the Circular Economy, just as we
were a pioneer of the industrial revolution.

18
+31 (0) 203690977 Klimopweg 150
info@metabolic.nl 1032HX Amsterdam
www.metabolic.nl The Netherlands