CBC at Building Green Copenhagen

At the end of October at Building Green DK, the Circular Buildings Coalition (CBC) hosted the session “𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 – 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.”

Panelists Peter Vangsbo (Arup), Jane Gardener (European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute) and Niel Jakubiak Andersen (Næste), shared their perspectives on how to build less with more circularity; how to better collaborate across industries and how to mature the market. The event was hosted by Mikkel Andersen Thomassen from CBC and Smith Innovation.

Read below to hear some of the key takeaways from each of the panelists and the host:

Peter Vangsbo, Arup, observed how the narrative of sustainability has evolved beyond the idea that circularity is sufficient. Instead, the growing sentiment is we must build less, and when building is necessary, build circular. This requires policy alignment to become common place.

Jane Gardner MCIWM, EUROPEAN RESILIENT FLOORING MANUFACTURERS'​ INSTITUTE, shared her perspectives from the PVC flooring industry. Despite this industry having some key big players,it has been proven that the best solution for consistent reuse is a cross-industry takeback scheme. However, critical to this is high levels of collaboration across the market and along the value chain.

Niels Jakubiak Andersen, Næste, highlighted the importance of market maturement in sustaining the increasing SME’s in the sustainability sector. Despite the proven lower total life cost of Naeste’s circular shed solution,the higher initial upfront cost of purchase is currently a barrier to customer interest. Building the market and evidencing the long term savings is the key way forwards.

Some positive observations in attending Building Green by Mikkel Andreas Thomassen, CBC and Smith Innovation, was a feeling that circular and biobased solutions are on the rise in the Danish context. And there are increasing numbers of SME’s entering the market, especially ones ‘born green’ (created with the sustainability transition as a key driver).

All in all Building Green Dk was a highly enriching event, we look forward to it next year!

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