Why is collaboration key in achieving a circular economy and our carbon goals? 

A circular economy aims to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources through recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials. In the construction sector, this translates to designing and constructing/ retrofitting and deconstructing buildings with a focus on longevity, adaptability, and detachability.  

However, the built environment is inherently complex, involving various stakeholders such as architects, contractors, developers, and policymakers. Each stage of the construction process, from design to demolition, presents opportunities for circular practices, but each stage also relies on the others to realise these opportunities. To ‘close the loop’ everyone has a role to play in ensuring products and materials don’t become waste.  

Collaboration ensures that all these stakeholders work cohesively towards common goals, leveraging their diverse expertise for comprehensive solutions. 

How can we foster collaboration across the built environment sector? 

Fostering collaboration in the built environment sector to achieve a circular economy requires the implementation of various mechanisms that encourage communication, shared goals, and collective action. Some effective mechanisms are: 

• Open data platforms where stakeholders can transparently share information on material sourcing, consumption, and waste generation facilitating data-driven decision-making and encourages collaboration by providing a common ground for information exchange. 
• Circular economy networks such as UKGBC Circular Economy Forum and ReLondon where professionals, organizations, and policymakers can collaborate on research, share knowledge, and collectively work towards implementing circular practices in the sector.  
• Supply chain engagement, promoting transparency and communication between material suppliers, manufacturers, and construction companies, ensuring a seamless flow of information, materials, and best practices. 
• Collaborative research initiatives that bring together academia, industry, and government entities, pooling resources to address common challenges, develop innovative solutions, and share findings that benefit the entire sector.   

How Madaster facilitates collaboration 

The Madaster platform enables stakeholders across the value chain to combine, collate and share product, material and asset level information. Architects, builders, producers, and other industry actors can contribute to a shared pool of information, fostering a dynamic, transparent and efficient approach to material passport production. This, in turn, empowers users to make informed decisions from reliable and trusted data that align with circular economy principles. Madaster already has over 2000 users and 3000 registered assets across Europe.  

Madaster’s Pioneer Network aims to brings together leaders in sustainable and circular construction, providing a platform for sharing ideas and collectively working towards new and innovative solutions. By fostering a community dedicated to advancing circular practices, the Pioneer Network provides a support base and information source that helps to further position members as leaders in the Material Passport and circular economy conversation.

“As a digital tool Madaster opens enormous doors for the industry to see materials as valuable assets and enables a strong business case for a circular economy.”

Simon Joe Portal – Drees & Sommer UK, Madaster Pioneer Network Member

Madaster actively support and contributes to academic research that aligns with our vision of a world without waste and is one of the core roles of the Madaster Foundation.  Madaster is a partner in the EU Horizon-funded Drastic project which aims to demonstrate real and affordable circular building solutions. We are also supporting UCL’s Building Passport Alignment project which is looking to develop a standardised data structure to ensure that we can capture the data needed by key sustainability focused reporting schemes and standards. 

In the pursuit of a circular economy in the built environment sector, collaboration emerges as the linchpin for success. By bringing together diverse expertise, fostering innovation, and aligning policies, stakeholders can collectively drive the necessary changes. The path to sustainability is a shared journey, and only through collaboration can we truly realize the transformative potential of a circular economy in the built environment. 

If you would like to learn more about collaborative opportunities or the Madaster platform and Pioneer Network, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to discuss collaborative opportunities and support wherever we can. We regularly provide no-obligation demonstrations and host CPD sessions across the construction industry value chain.