On 17 September construction giants will meet to pool the latest thinking and progress towards adoption of the circular economy in the built environment.

The circular economy presents an opportunity to look holistically at methods of reducing the materials impact of building design and building lifecycles.

Representatives from Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska, Lend Lease, Willmott Dixon, Keepmoat, WRAP, Balfour Beatty and Saint-Gobain, among others, will meet to hear presentations from Ken Shuttleworth of MAKE Architects, Jonathan Cullen of UK Indemand and Graham Hilton co-founder of RE-Fab and director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASPB) on innovative strategies to increase resource efficiency in buildings.

Stephen Gee, co-founder and event director, Resource, said: “Collaboration across the entire supply chain is absolutely critical if the UK is to deliver a low carbon, resource efficient built environment. The interest we’ve seen from some of the industry’s biggest players to unite in this way is very positive and demonstrates a clear commitment from the construction industry to close the loop on its business models and develop resource efficient practices across the sector.”
 
In support of the Built Environment Commitment goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 as part of Government’s Construction 2025 action plan, these thought leaders will discuss strategies covering best use of materials, water and energy over the lifecycle of built assets to achieve low carbon construction.
 
The ASBP is working with partners throughout the construction supply chain including Sir Robert McAlpine and academics from Cambridge University to implement a new approach to building procurement design and delivery which is expected to begin shifting the construction industry from a make, use and break approach to a substantially more rational and resource efficient model.
   
This meeting has generated huge interest from firms keen to understand how to improve the lifecycle thinking in major new structures, the business of benefits of doing so, and the way they can pioneer new strategies to implement circular economy principles. The event is hosted by Saint-Gobain and Resource (www.resource-event.com), the circular economy specialists.
 
Smarter Construction in the Circular Economy takes place on Wednesday 17 September 2014 at the Saint-Gobain Innovation Centre, London. If you are interested in attending, please contact Ed Lawson, content director and founder at Resource by email at ed.lawson@ubm.com or call 07798 571961.