Strategies for the sustainable use of building materials

Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) accounts for around a quarter of all waste generation worldwide. Due to urbanization and infrastructure growth, especially in emerging markets, volumes are rising continuously. These volumes of waste put a strain on landfills, ecosystems and resources, but at the same time offer significant opportunities. Recycling and reuse could significantly reduce raw material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In practice, however, this potential has hardly been exploited so far. In the report "A critical review on recycling and reuse of construction and demolition waste materials", Indian scientists have examined current processes, obstacles and strategies of C&DW recycling and show ways in which the construction industry can be transformed to a circular use of resources. The report was published in "Cleaner Waste Systems".