Exploring the Potential of Urban Mining
Our current society is experiencing exponential growth in population, food demand, resource consumption, and energy usage, resulting in an escalating human impact on the Earth. However, it’s crucial to recognize that our planet and its natural resources are limited, and exceeding the Earth’s carrying capacity leads to irreversible damage.
The building industry plays a significant role in this scenario, consuming vast amounts of materials, space, water, and energy. Accounting for 40 to 50 percent of global resource usage, it has a colossal environmental footprint and is the largest contributor to waste production, responsible for 36 percent of total waste over the past decades.
The European Parliament is currently promoting a sustainable model known as the Circular Economy (European Parliament, 2018). Circular building, based on this concept, aims to minimize waste and maximize the reuse of materials, products, and components (van Sante, 2017). It also focuses on reusing real estate and infrastructure without unnecessary depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution, or ecosystem degradation (Transition Team Circular Building Economy, 2018). A collective transition to a circular building economy, where material flows are closed within the construction and demolition sector, can make a significant difference.
What if we no longer consider materials from demolitions as waste but as potential resources to be kept in circulation? This is where the concept of urban mining comes into play (Vlaanderen Circulair, 2021). Rather than demolishing buildings, we should disassemble them and “harvest” reusable materials. This way, the value of the resources and materials present in buildings can be preserved.
OBJECTIVE
The focus of our research within Active8-Planet was to delve deeper into the potential of urban mining and the reuse of materials and components.
Exploring the Concept of Urban Mining
To explore the concept of urban mining in the building industry, we embarked on a series of visits, masterclasses, presentations, and literature reviews on the themes of circularity, urban mining, digitization, and industrialization.
The first meeting of the Active8 team took place on November 30, 2022, in Kerkrade. Our team visited the SuperLocal project and participated in masterclasses on urban mining led by Prof. ir. Peter op T’ Veld and Dr. Ir. John van Oorschot.
Superlocal experimented with circular building, utilizing existing qualities, materials, and values to create a new residential complex. For example, the research team developed a method to recycle old concrete into new concrete elements, which were successfully used in the construction of several houses. Three experimental houses were even built entirely using materials reclaimed from the demolition of old apartment buildings across the street.
Masterclasses
The masterclasses were led by experts from different European regions who shared a common goal of applying circular methods in their respective areas. We were immersed in their world, gaining insights into existing tools, concepts, and companies. For example, we learned about BuildUpSpeed, which focuses on pop-up factories that bring together supply and demand, as well as Baukarusell, which introduced the concept of Social Urban Mining by incorporating social factors into the urban mining process, such as involving people facing employment challenges. We also witnessed emerging trends in building digitization, such as 3D scanning technologies that facilitate building inventories.
Our initial conclusions were as follows: (1) urban mining prevents the loss of valuable materials as waste, (2) the current application of urban mining in the construction sector is not yet economically viable, and (3) there are concerns regarding the safety of materials obtained through urban mining that need to be addressed. For example, it is unclear whether all materials should be tested or if sampling is sufficient. In any case, ensuring the safety of materials obtained through urban mining is crucial.
Workshop – Active8Planet Matrix
To establish a concrete focus for our 7+1 team, we utilized the “Active8Planet Matrix” tool.
We learned about Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics and linked it to the design of social and ecological impacts on both local and global levels.
Starting from the challenge, “How can we link materials to manufacturers?”—as we learned in our research it’s difficult to align them-we delved deeper into the potential local (social and ecological) impact we could generate. We also explored the two global lenses, focusing on improving the well-being of people worldwide and preserving the health of the planet.
During this initial brainstorming session, we came up with possible ideas, such as developing a workshop to inspire companies about circularity, creating a concept that brings together contractors, architects, and manufacturers, designing a tool that facilitates the reuse of materials and makes it visually appealing, and more. It would also be valuable to involve the old Courthouse in Hasselt as a tangible case in the process.
Proposals
We continued working on these ideas by dividing the team into groups to work out and present proposals, allowing for further brainstorming. Some proposals included: (1) organizing a roundtable discussion to bring companies together, (2) hosting a themed week with workshops and debate sessions to educate both companies and the general public, including students, about the Circular Economy and Urban Mining, (3) developing a step-by-step guide to assist companies interested in urban mining but unsure where to start, (4) creating a framework with quality experts to address concerns regarding the quality of reclaimed materials, (5) developing a database that starts from buildings to make materials more tangible and visually appealing, while also providing transparent data, and (6) adopting an open-source model.
Several recurring themes in the proposals emphasized the importance of informing and providing guidance to businesses and individuals regarding reuse, offering transparent data, ensuring the quality of materials, and more. After a group discussion, we concluded that as a team, we would further develop two points: (1) a participation and communication day focused on the Circular Economy and (2) a tangible online database serving as a platform for urban mining.
Thus, two teams were formed: the Communication Team and the Platform Team. The Communication Team organized a debate with stakeholders involved in urban mining, while the Platform Team developed a digital platform that connects ‘mined’ materials with users and provides information. Building upon existing material databases, this platform stands out by being highly tangible, transparent, and accessible for stakeholders in the circular building economy.
On May 10, during UHasselt’s Sustainable Week, our results were presented to the general public on our “Urban Mining Day.” The mock-up of our platform was enthusiastically received, and the debate saw a significant turnout. Various urban mining experts engaged in discussions, and the audience’s numerous questions reaffirmed the importance of sharing information and knowledge on this topic.
In conclusion, as our society continues to experience rapid growth and resource consumption, it is essential to address the environmental impact of the building industry, which accounts for a significant portion of global resource usage and waste production. The concept of urban mining, through disassembling buildings and reusing materials, presents a promising solution to minimize waste and preserve valuable resources. While challenges remain, such as economic viability and material safety, our research within Active8-Planet has highlighted the potential of urban mining and the need for collective action in transitioning towards a circular building economy. The development of a tangible online platform and the organization of a participation and communication day are important steps toward raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and driving the adoption of circular practices in the construction sector.
