Building Futures

In this section

• Materials Facts
• Basic Principles
• Solutions
• Case Studies
• Further information - Materials

Reclaimed/Reused/Recycled Materials

Substitution of primary/virgin materials for reclaimed or recycled materials improves the sustainability of buildings by:

• reducing the reliance on primary materials
• reducing construction and demolition generated waste, (or waste from other industries if the materials are sourced externally)

A number of material types lend themselves well to reclamation, notably those that have a high economic value or particular aesthetic quality such as:

• hardwood flooring
• timber structural joists and steel beams
• stone (e.g. York stone, limestone)
• high value cladding (e.g. granite or marble)
• brickwork

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) provides an environmental rating framework for materials, according to their recycled content. Product recycled content (as defined by ISO 14021), is measured as a percentage of total material mass.

Building recycled content can be calculated using a specially developed software tool, at www.wrap.org.uk/construction. This link also includes a full database listing construction products that have a high recycled content. 

Many procurers, notably public sector clients, specify a 10% target for whole building recycled content. This target is calculated by product value, rather than mass.

Examples of products that inherently have a high recycled content are listed below. The products listed do not incur additional cost or impact upon other project considerations such as programme, aesthetic quality or functionality.

However, in some instances, products with a higher recycled content raise technical issues. For example the use of cement replacements (e.g. pulverised fuel ash) increases concrete curing time.

 *ground granulated blast furnace slag