Rethink, Reuse, Reduce: What Is The Circular Economy?

For most of the construction industry's history, the nature of construction has been the complete opposite of a circular economy. In 2024, this couldn’t be truer. There remains a strong demand for materials positively correlated with the declining lifespans of buildings, forcing the construction industry to address the wastage of virgin materials at all stages of the life cycle. With more than 10 billion tonnes of construction and demolition waste (CDW) generated by the construction industry alone and 25% of natural resources consumed on an annual basis coming from construction, the need for a circular economy is stronger than ever.

There is a lack of knowledge of circular economy concepts in the construction industry, however, with a better understanding of sustainability and what the circular economy is, why they are beneficial, and products that play a positive role. We’ll be exploring these questions, and why saveBOARD - an upcycled composite building product - is an alternative to products that use virgin materials without sacrificing quality.

saveBOARD, Sustainability & The Circular Economy

Here is everything you need to know about what a circular economy is, its benefits, and how saveBOARD offers products that exist in a circular economy without compromising on quality.

What Is A Circular Economy?

Whilst many of the materials on Earth are renewable, most of the materials used in the construction industry are not renewable. Those that are at the very least recyclable, require an enormous amount of energy to create them. Sustainability and the circular economy look different in different industries, but in essence, it involves using as few virgin materials as possible, choosing renewable products, recycling or repurposing rather than wasting, and minimising energy consumption and the output of greenhouse gases. 

A circular economy in the construction industry not only considers each stage of the production journey, but for materials that have already been constructed, how they can be reused and repurposed when they reach the end of their lifecycle to reduce the environmental impact of having to create new building materials from scratch. Materials that can be repurposed minimise waste generation, and have a lower environmental impact, however, repurposing these materials is a challenge in itself.

Benefits Of A Circular Economy

Encompassing economic, social, and environmental considerations, sustainability is at the forefront of circular economies. Going beyond just reducing environmental impact, it’s a complete shift in how we create, use, and reuse materials. By choosing materials that last longer, are easily repaired, and ultimately be repurposed or recycled, there is less waste generation, which is a key principle and benefit when building sustainably. For existing materials, the circular economy considers how they can be reused, repurposed, recycled, or remanufactured, to not only prevent additional waste but to reduce the need for additional resources. In some cases, these materials can be more cost-effective than new materials, and as they are not “new” even when repurposed, they are considered more environmentally friendly, which can help with green project goals.

Creating and managing a circular economy creates new job opportunities in resource management, waste collection, and recycling, which will only drive demand for sustainable, repurposed materials. It also catalyses innovation and challenges the status quo, as manufacturers will look to rethink traditional practices and look to create more sustainable alternatives. Such a change could focus light on sustainable practices and consumption that can help the industry to improve as a whole.

The economic and social benefits of circular economies are a plus, but ultimately, the environmental benefits are the greatest. There are many steps involved in between extracting a raw material and it being ready for construction, and by utilising existing resources, the energy consumed and carbon footprint can be lowered drastically. Additionally, by utilising existing materials efficiently and reducing reliance on virgin resources, there is less impact on the environment, especially for non-renewable materials that have a finite supply.

saveBOARD’s Circular Economy

Offering a new way to repurpose materials without the laborious and energy-intensive processes needed for traditional recycling, saveBOARD is the perfect example of how innovation can make a difference. Upcycling everyday waste products like Tetra Paks, coffee cups, coffee pods, and unused POS, they are reinvented into a sustainable building product that rivals the durability of traditionally produced materials. Diverting waste from landfills and promoting resource efficiency, saveBOARD enables builders and developers to participate in a circular economy that makes a positive difference.

As it can be recycled and used again and again, it challenges traditional construction materials that serve a single purpose before being destined as a waste product. Instead of being considered a worthless waste product, single-use materials that were never intended to be used in the construction industry, saveBOARD products are repurposed into a range of building products that not only match traditional building products but outperform them. 

About Mulford

For 78 years, Mulford has been providing high-quality products and pioneering numerous products throughout the Asia Pacific region. Mulford's materials are utilised across various dynamic industries, including Building and Construction, Corporate Signage, Shop-fitting, Engineering, Mass Transportation, Digital Printing, Electrical, and Electronics.

We pride ourselves on always delivering exceptional technical and product support to assure our customers of applying the right product for the right application. Plus, thanks to our vast network of sales and distribution centres, customers are also guaranteed first-class service from our dedicated teams who understand the importance of your business.

If you want to use saveBOARD in your next project or want more information on how it can be used, contact us today. Our expert team can help you implement sustainable products on your next project without sacrificing durability, quality, or performance.