Every year in early autumn, the global overconsumption day is celebrated. On that day, our consumption exceeds the Earth's ability to produce renewable natural resources and process the greenhouse emissions caused by the use of fossil fuels for that year.
Last year, the overspending date was already August 8.
Since we live beyond our means, we have to create new operating models to grow the economy and well-being without fossil fuels and overconsumption of natural resources. We also need to improve the use of resources and materials in such a way that both raw materials and their value remain in circulation. Development must take place comprehensively throughout the entire chain.
Mineral-based building materials, such as aggregates, are a key part of construction. There are several questions related to the resource efficiency of aggregates that are without a final solution.
Everything starts with land use planning – at the municipal and provincial level. The area that is decided to be used for construction is used efficiently and other areas are left as natural as possible. Excavated soils created during construction must be seen as a resource, the maximum utilization of which is of primary importance in the construction site itself. Planning must be based on the fact that no excavated soil that can be classified as waste is formed during construction.
Virgin soil and stone materials must be saved. If possible, they can be replaced with recycled and recycled materials.
After a well-planned process, mineral-based construction wastes are excellent building materials. In the future, it will be even more important to assess how buildings can be sensibly repaired or dismantled, and how the remaining life of the parts can be utilized in new uses. The best way is to do the demolition planning already as part of the construction planning.
Could we take utilization of recycled materials as a starting point for planning all construction projects? I believe that by increasing the procurement expertise related to recycled materials, we could increase the recycling rate considerably.
So far, the user of recycled materials also encounters quite a regulatory jungle. Due to unclear practices, things can get stuck. In the future, recycled materials must be treated alongside other products with the same value and under the same conditions. It's time to stop creating criteria for the use of different types of waste and remove the waste status from recycled products.
Resource efficiency requires a change in the entire system to be realized, and the contribution of each actor in the chain is important. In order to promote the circular economy, it is necessary to clear administrative barriers and increase business expertise, but also create an inspiring basis for experiments and cross-border cooperation - without forgetting environmental protection.
The text has also been published on INFRA ry's blog 18.1.2017.
I would think that cleaned sandblasting would be suitable as a material even if it is no longer suitable for walkers? In Tampere, it is said that such a facility gets dusty because it is 'too expensive to use'..