Sustainable deconstruction

Published on 27.06.2023
This knowledge was donated by:
German Sustainable Building Council - DGNB e.V.
Curated by Dr. Anna Braune

Sustainable deconstruction starts with careful planning! After all, the majority of new construction or refurbishment projects are now preceded by deconstruction. It makes sense to integrate sustainable demolition into the overall planning of the construction project right from the start. A systematic approach based on a checklist makes the process easier for you.

Background knowledge

What makes deconstruction sustainable?

Sustainable deconstruction measures pursue several goals at once: They increase the value of the building fabric, contribute to its protection and express an appreciation of the materials. Systematic deconstruction planning at an early stage not only saves resources, but also costs and valuable time.
Transparency must be created and knowledge generated right through to the optimization of material flows and the expansion of logistics and infrastructure processes, which is then available to planners and decision-makers at all levels, including at municipal level. A truly circular construction and real estate industry can only emerge if we also close the circle of knowledge carriers. The more efficiently a sustainable demolition project is carried out, the more effectively material flows are closed. All in the spirit of a circular construction and real estate industry.

The five basic principles of sustainable deconstruction

The following measures contribute to preserving the value of resources in the sense of a circular economy:

Improve and expand processes

  • Improve and expand existing deconstruction processes.
  • As the processes are crucial for the optimisation of deconstruction as a whole, the DGNB System places a clear focus here.

Creating transparency

  • Regarding the quantities and transportation required for deconstruction,
  • The costs and risks of deconstruction and
  • The value of the resources that are still available at the end of the life cycle.
  • This knowledge must be made available to planners and decision-makers, especially at local level.
Source: DGNB e.V.

Identify hazardous substances and dispose of them appropriately

  • If hazardous substances are separated, the remaining material flows can be kept in circulation.
  • The aim is not to reuse at any price, but to achieve the highest possible degree of separation by type.

Optimise recycling and disposal

  • Optimise recycling and disposal routes,
  • Aim for reuse or recycling on site,
  • Separation by type on the construction site.

Focus on people

  • Dealing with those involved is of particular relevance.
  • The issue of safety plays an important role.
  • Proactive communication with both employees and neighbours enables smooth processes and prevents conflicts.

Complex topic

One of the fundamental challenges for the implementation of a circular construction and property industry lies in its complexity. It encompasses a large number of detailed issues and involves numerous stakeholders, some of whom have had little to do with each other to date. Added to this are the long utilisation periods with constantly changing framework conditions due to changes in users, urban development and social changes. All of this shows: Construction and buildings are complex.

"A systematic view of the planning of demolition measures is required"

Holistic view

This also means that we need a holistic approach. The decisive impetus must be provided in the right places along the entire value chain. Otherwise, the necessary transformation will not succeed.

Conclusion

One of these important impulses is to focus on the issues of today's dismantling and the associated legal and economic framework conditions.
A truly circular construction and property industry can only emerge if we also close the circle of knowledge carriers. We need to dissolve the previous boundaries resulting from differences in time or interests and make the relevant knowledge available to all those involved. This can work if everyone involved is open to exchanging ideas and learning from each other.

This knowledge was donated by:

German Sustainable Building Council - DGNB e.V.
Founded in 2007, the DGNB is now Europe's largest network for sustainable building with over 2,000 member organisations. The aim of the association is to promote sustainability in the construction and property industry and to anchor it in the consciousness of the general public. With the DGNB certification system, the independent non-profit organisation has developed a planning and optimisation tool for assessing sustainable buildings, interiors and districts that helps to increase real sustainability in construction projects. The DGNB system is based on a holistic understanding of sustainability that takes equal account of the environment, people and economic efficiency. In addition, around 8,000 people in 45 countries have already been qualified as experts in sustainable building via the DGNB Academy training and further education platform.
Please send contact enquiries to:
Mail: a.braune@dgnb.de
Phone: +49 711 722322-67