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- Footprint analysis of circular economy practices in the steel industry [Resumo]Publication . Sameer, Husam; Knoblauch, Lukas; Dürr, Hans H.; Flörke, Martina; Ambaye, Teklit G.; Lima, Ana Teresa; Mao, Ruichang; Lu, Zheng; Kunther, Wolfgang; Slabik, Simon; Hafner, Annette; Aloini, Davide; Zerbino, Pierluigi; Mabroum, Safaa; Ram, V.; Barbosa, Juliana; Simoes, Sofia; Genovese, AndreaABSTRACT: Steel is one of the dominant materials in the building industry, however, substantial environmental impacts occur in its supply chain. We evaluate the environmental performance of different steel production scenarios at the macro level, taking into account circular economy practices. Using the dynamic life cycle assessment methodology, different scenarios are assessed for the time horizon 2015 to 2070. The environmental footprints are quantified in terms of primary energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, material, land and water footprints. Forecasts regarding the availability of end-of-life steel and future demand in European and global contexts are considered.
- Mapping circular economy practices for steel, cement, glass, brick, insulation, and wood: a review for climate mitigation modelingPublication . Lima, Ana Teresa; Kirkelund, Gunvor Marie; Lu, Zheng; Mao, Ruichang; Kunther, Wolfgang; Rode, Carsten; Slabik, Simon; Hafner, Annette; Sameer, Husam; Dürr, Hans H.; Flörke, Martina; Lowe, Benjamin H.; Aloini, Davide; Zerbino, Pierluigi; Simoes, SofiaABSTRACT: Circular economy (CE) practices pave the way for the construction sector to become less material- and carbon-intensive. However, for CE quantification by climate mitigation models, one must first identify the CE practices along a product (or material) value chain. In this review, CE practices are mapped for the value chain of 6 construction materials to understand how these practices influence and can be considered in climate mitigation modelling. The main sub-categories of steel, cement, glass, clay-brick, insulation materials, and wood were used to identify which Rs are currently addressed at the lab and industrial scales: refuse, reduce, rethink, repair, reuse, remanufacture, refurbish, repurpose, recycle, and recover. The CE practices were reviewed using scientific repositories and grey literature, validated by European-wide stakeholders, and mapped across the life-cycle stages of the six materials – extraction, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life (EoL). The mapping was limited to the manufacturing and EoL stages because materials could be identified at these stages (the extraction phase pertains to resources, and the use phase to a product, for example, buildings). All reviewed CE practices identified at the industrial scale were quantified at the European level. For example, EoL reinforcement steel is 1–11 % reused and 70–95 % recycled; manufacturing CEM I is up to 60 % reduced; remanufacturing flat glass is 26 % remanufactured while less than 5 % EoL flat glass is recycled. A major barrier to closed-loop recycling is the need for sorting and separation technologies. Open-loop recycling synergies are found at the industrial scale between, for example, flat glass and glass wool value chains. Climate mitigation models are proposed to be augmented to include these practices requiring an explicit link between building use and the other construction materials' value chain stages.
- The CO2NSTRUCT European project: Modelling the role of Circular Economy in construction value chains for a carbon-neutral EuropePublication . Oikonomou, Theoni I.; Karytsas, Spyridon; Karytsas, Constantine; Simoes, Sofia; Calvo, Oscar Seco; Egido, M.N. Sánchez; Castro, S. Soutullo; Zerbino, Pierluigi; Aloini, Davide; Genovese, Andrea; Bimpizas-Pinis, Meletios; Slabik, Simon; Lima, Ana TeresaABSTRACT: Linear climate mitigation models look into aggregated economic sectors and model greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disregarding downstream value chains, making particular sectors accountable for downstream (or upstream) GHG emissions. Hence, the present climate mitigation models inconsistently account for indirect GHG emissions; underrepresent upstream and downstream value chains; do not address Circular Economy (CE) practices; do not cover resource consumption, thus not considering materials' circularity. To provide curated policy support for decision-making for carbon neutrality and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), models need to shift from linear to circular. To achieve this, a link between energy-climate mitigation modelling and cradle-to-cradle assessment CE analytical tools must be established. This is the core issue covered in the CO2NSTRUCT Horizon project (2022-2026). CO2NSTRUCT proposes a framework to supplement the well-established JRC-EU-TIMES model, using a highly comprehensive technological representation with CE measures. The framework will apply CE measures to the value chain of six carbon-intensive construction materials (i.e., cement, steel, brick, glass, wood, and insulation materials) and will provide new components to the JRC-EU-TIMES model, including citizen behaviour; societal impacts; rebound effects; supply and value chains. The results will be used for policy approaches integrating CE into climate change mitigation actions.
- Main CE practices in the Construction industry for the six carbon-intensive materials [Resumo]Publication . Lima, Ana Teresa; Kirkelund, Gunvor Marie; Lu, Zheng; Mao, Ruichang; Kunther, Wolfgang; Rode, Carsten; Ambaye, Teklit G.; Slabik, Simon; Hafner, Annette; Sameer, Husam; Dürr, Hans H.; Flörke, Martina; Lowe, Benjamin H.; Aloini, Davide; Zerbino, Pierluigi; Simoes, Sofia
- Climate mitigation models need to become circular : let's start with the construction sectorPublication . Lima, Ana Teresa; Simoes, Sofia; Aloini, Davide; Zerbino, Pierluigi; Oikonomou, Theoni I.; Karytsas, Spyridon; Karytsas, Constantine; Calvo, Oscar Seco; Porcar, Beatriz; Herrera, I.; Slabik, Simon; Dürr, Hans H.; Genovese, Andrea; Bimpizas-Pinis, MeletiosABSTRACT: Circular Economy (CE) is presented today as the way forward to achieving a sustainable and carbon-neutral society. Yet, circularity assessment tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Material Flow Analysis (MFA), and Supply and value-chain analysis are currently disconnected from the models used to advise bodies that steer sustainability-driven policies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate mitigation models (henceforth climate models) are used in policy discussions and international negotiations to track GHG emissions and identify pathways towards a low-carbon economy. One example is the JRC-EU-TIMES model developed by the International Energy Agency or the PRIMES model, which is the backbone of the energy and climate policy of the European Union (EU). These climate models are inherently suitable for representing only linear patterns of economic activity, where GHG emissions are modelled per economic sector (primary energy resource extraction, final energy generation, energy, and materials used in industry, buildings, etc.).