Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) is by volume the largest waste stream in the European Union. Although a vast majority of CDW is recyclable and reusable, one of the common barriers to recycling and reuse of CDW is the lack of confidence in the quality of recovered materials and components.

This guide is part of the Training Pack for waste prevention on construction projects. It provides specific, best practice advice to help with the prevention and reduction of waste as well as recycling of materials on construction sites. In the construction industry site waste may be managed by a third party or parties may be responsible for managing their own waste; this guide is aimed at both groups. 

The risks of not curbing global warming are clear. The good news is that the built environment can play a massive role in drawing down emissions. But decarbonizing the built environment needs to advance now: New buildings and renovations of every type need to be built and operated to zero carbon emission standards. This is a collective endeavor. It will take every building in every community. The entire built environment sector, like the entire world of nations, is in this together.  

The urgency around climate change is pressing us to rethink our approach to delivering and using energy in buildings and how this relates to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  This guide provides key information about building decarbonization, aimed at the non-technical audience. 

This practical guide demonstrates how buildings and community spaces can be constructed to increase their resilience to climate change, especially in developing countries where structures are largely self-built. The publication provides an overview of the fundamental types of interventions at the building scale, including the use of nature-based solutions. The guide offers construction solutions to adapt to a range of different risks in various climates.

This short online course from the Life Cycle Initiative provides grounding on lifecycle thinking for policy makers. This is delivered via a series of video lessons, reading materials, and quizzes around the application of life cycle thinking in different areas of policy. The areas covered include those relevant to the built environment and urban planning, including transport and waste policy.

With the built environment responsible for almost 40% of energy-related carbon emissions globally, we must find new ways to design and construct our cities.  

Reuse of materials is a key principle within a circular economy, ensuring material value is maintained for as long as possible. Use of reclaimed materials in construction has the potential to reduce the embodied carbon of construction, minimising the need for virgin material extraction and production as well as reducing volumes of waste generated and other negative externalities.