Is today's flat roof the material reserve of tomorrow?
Published on 4 April 2018
Publication
We are increasingly aware that our raw material resources will not be limitless. Those intended for roofing materials are no exception. The circular economy addresses this issue by considering today's materials as the raw materials of tomorrow. This approach not only involves recycling waste but also reflects on the upcoming challenges and possibilities.
Circular economy in the construction sector aims to reduce waste and promote the recycling of materials. In Belgium, the construction sector is responsible for about 30% of waste production, but recycling remains complex due to material quality, limiting standards, and high costs.
An effective approach is to design buildings and roofs for disassembly, using techniques that allow for easy separation of materials (such as removable waterproofing systems or reversible adhesives). Although these innovative solutions are still uncommon, they can inspire future applications.
However, recycling can have negative environmental impacts, such as energy-intensive transportation or long-term overconsumption of materials. Therefore, technical durability and the quality of materials and design are crucial.
The future of circular economy in construction could involve models like BIM to track materials and their history, as well as contracts where manufacturers or contractors retain ownership of products. These models could encourage quality work and proper maintenance, reducing the need for premature replacement.
In conclusion, developing circular economy principles in construction, particularly with dismountable roofs, could become a future standard, although there are currently no legal obligations in this area.