Circular Economy Principles
Designing buildings for reuse, adaptation, and regeneration
Your Progress
Section 4 of 5Closing the Loop
The circular economy reimagines buildings not as static monuments but as material banks and adaptable platforms. Instead of the linear "take-make-waste" model, circular design keeps materials in use through multiple lifecycles via reuse, refurbishment, and recycling. This approach can reduce embodied carbon by 50-70% while creating economic value from what would otherwise become waste.
Circular Principles
- 🔄Design Out Waste: Plan for disassembly from the start
- ♻️Keep Materials in Use: Maximize reuse and recycling
- 🌱Regenerate Systems: Use renewable, non-toxic materials
- 📋Material Passports: Document for future recovery
Benefits
50-70% Embodied Carbon Reduction
Through reused and recycled materials
Extended Building Lifespan
Adaptability prevents premature demolition
Resource Security
Reduced dependence on virgin materials
Interactive Circular Strategy Builder
Select strategies across design, materials, systems, and end-of-life planning
📐design
🧱materials
⚙️systems
♻️endoflife
♻️
Select circular economy strategies above to see their combined impact
Complete Your Learning
Review key concepts and test your lifecycle assessment knowledge