CIRC-BOOST: Circular solutions in the construction sector

The CIRC-BOOST project focuses on testing and scaling up circular solutions for buildings and the construction sector through five pilot projects deployed in Barcelona (Spain), Paris (France), Belgrade (Serbia), Vesterålen (Norway) and Prague (Czech Republic). These pilots will demonstrate, on a large scale, innovative and integrated solutions for the dismantling, processing, management and valorisation of construction waste, transforming it into new products.

The pilot project in Spain: laMercedes

The CIRC-BOOST pilot project in this area will be carried out in laMercedes space, between the neighbourhoods of Sant Andreu del Palomar and Bon Pastor, in Barcelona. There, the C3S research group will use BIM-based digital twins to generate databases of materials and other construction elements, as well as techniques for soil decontamination and reuse. Selective demolition will also be carried out using sustainability criteria, in order to make optimal use of recovered materials. During the construction phase, low-cost wireless sensors and NFC (Near Field Communication) tags will be used to ensure the traceability of recovered materials and elements. In addition, urban furniture elements will be manufactured using 3D printing with recycled materials, minimising cement consumption.

This pilot is expected to achieve:

• Over 90% decontamination of soil contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals.

• An increase of more than 40% in the recovery of structural elements for reuse.

• Successful implementation of material traceability through wireless sensors.

Pilots in other countries

In France, a digital and physical platform will be created to optimise construction waste flows at the infrastructure works of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the subsequent Paralympic Games. This same platform will also be used to manage and reuse waste generated by the Grand Paris Express works, currently the largest infrastructure under construction in Europe.

In Belgrade, a pilot housing unit will be built using recycled steel, concrete and rubber.

In Vesterålen (Norway), materials from the selective demolition of two buildings and steel from fishing industry containers will be reused to construct the GaiaVesterålen container museum in the port of Sortland.

In Prague (Czech Republic), a residential building will be constructed on a former abandoned factory site, using exclusively reused and recycled materials.

Impact

Monitoring the circular solutions implemented in the pilot constructions will allow the collection of key data to assess their technological, environmental, economic and social effectiveness. This information will be integrated into an open database including tools and recommendations for future constructions, with the aim of encouraging business adoption of these technologies. In addition, the project will provide access to relevant building information —such as condition, material traceability and provenance, or energy performance— improving decision-making throughout the entire life cycle of projects.

CIRC-BOOST will contribute to the development of safer, more durable and energy-efficient buildings, delivering direct benefits to quality of life and the environment. At the same time, it will have a positive impact on the territory, promoting the creation of quality jobs and offering new training opportunities for sector professionals through planned educational activities.

Consortium, Budget and Funding

The project involves 27 partners from 8 European countries. The consortium brings together private sector actors, universities, public authorities and cluster organisations, with the aim of driving the adoption of integrated circular solutions in construction value chains.

The UPC spin-off Smart Engineering also takes part in the project, together with the Spanish companies Acciona Construcción and Control Demeter. Other partners come from France, Serbia, Norway, the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany and Greece.

Running for four years (July 2023 – June 2027), the project is funded by the Horizon Europe programme and has a budget of over € 9 million.