“The key to the circular economy is data,” James Adams, director at circular construction consultancy Maconda Solutions, explained.
“However, the challenge isn’t the access to the data – as a society we are swimming with data, it’s all there. The problem is structuring and filtering it.”
Maconda Solutions looks at providing digital tools, advice and site management to help their clients find the right data to help them become more circular.
Material passports, the One Nine Elms Project and the creation of Maconda Solutions
One of these digital tools is material passports, which was first trialled at the One Nine Elms project in South London.
In November 2021, Adams was the project director for one of the subcontractors on the site who was engaged by construction company Multiplex. He started road testing the potential for material passports on a live site.
He said that at the start of the project he realised that the industry – which he labelled as often “wasteful” and “inefficient” – is ripe for a transition to a more circular economy. The Nine Elms project looked at ways to make this happen.
Working with French company Upcyclea, Adams collated all available information for materials from cement screening to ceramic tiling to be given to Multiplex.
Adams explained: “Once we explained the concept, everyone was on board. The issue was having access to the right information.”
The One Nine Elms project revealed that the information chain is broken up across suppliers, subcontractors and sometimes even further.
Adams continued: “The answer turned out to be time. Luckily, as we were also responsible for delivering the project, we were able to track down the information as we needed it. But it was a lengthy process.
“If you start early enough, you can really speed things up. Start early and be clear on the data you need.”
The project facilitated a huge deal of learning for Adams and generated the concept of Maconda Solutions – which is now delivering several successful projects across London.
Reuse in construction
“Reuse is a topical issue. On a significant number of the sites we deal with now there are deliverables around reuse,” Adams explained.
For example, French company Saint-Gobain Glass will take demolition glass from contractors and use it as a secondary raw material within their production process.
“It’s a case where we’re building the aeroplane as we’re flying it. The aspiration is there, and the capabilities are there, however, there is going to be a learning curve.
Adams said it is encouraging to see that the change is largely being driven by industry and on a local government level.
Romulus
In November this year, the company launched its new programme “Romulus” which looks to create public-private partnerships to help ease the transition towards reuse and circularity.
Adams detailed how the concept came about: “Romulus came out of conversations I had over the course of a year with partners, including Upcyclea in France, the City of London and researchers at Cardiff University.
“It was odd because we could see that there was supply and we could see that there was demand – and yet nothing was happening.”
The online platform provides a space to bring together London-based local government, developers, architects and other stakeholders. Simply put, those with materials will be able to register them and those who need materials will be able to find them. However, there’s a team behind the programme who will actively monitor it and drive progress.
Adams concluded: “If I really break it down: the industry wants to make its life easier, and reuse is not an easy thing.
“We hope to be able to unlock that real push towards a more circular approach in construction.
“It’s not simply about creating another tool…it’s about creating the conditions for circularity to take off.”
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