The Circular Cities Declaration Report 2024 offers perspectives on how cities are adopting circular economy principles in several sectors, including the construction sector, which is traditionally a significant contributor to waste.

The report shows that many cities are prioritising circularity in their construction plans, as they are aware of the vast environmental impact of the construction sector, in particular:

• 29% of cities setting circular economy targets have specifically focused on buildings and infrastructure

• These targets encompass reducing virgin material use, maximising reuse, and designing buildings for deconstruction

The report highlights several standout examples demonstrating effective circular economy practices in construction and buildings. Notably:

• In Malmö: circular deconstruction practices have been used when dismantling its old hovercraft terminal. Reusable materials like concrete tiles and marble floors were salvaged and sold through the CC Build platform. This initiative saved an estimated 41 tonnes of CO2 through material reuse.

• Leuven’s Circular Materials Bank provides reclaimed building materials. The bank minimizes primary raw material consumption by offering reclaimed materials for sale to individuals and companies.

• Haarlem’s Circular Economy Action Plan aims to promote a raw material hub for buildings. In the city, 20% of housing constructions in the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam are realised in timber, and 50% of external construction projects have transparent material flows

• Turku’s Circular Roadmap integrates circular principles into five focus areas, including construction.

• Zurich’s integrates comprehensive waste reduction and material reuse targets into its construction strategy.

The Circular Cities Declaration Report 2024 indicates that cities are making progress toward circularity in the construction sector, although several challenges still have to be faced.

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