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Peer-reviewedCC BYEnvironmental science & technology

Decarbonization, Dematerialization, and Economic Gains in Circular Economy for Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Europe.

  • Chunbo Zhang1,2,3
  • Jinxin Wang1
  • Shuo Wang1
  • Rupert J Myers4
  • Julia A Stegemann2
4 affiliations
  1. 1Institute of Environmental Planning and Management & Institute of Carbon Neutrality, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, China.
  2. 2Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, LondonWC1E 6BT, U.K.
  3. 3Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden2300 RA, Netherlands.
  4. 4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
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Abstract

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) offers opportunities for decarbonization, dematerialization, and economic gains through high-value-added circular management. Yet, most of this material is downcycled. This study assesses different CDW circularity strategies in the EU27 + 4 from 2010 to 2050. Results show that continuing current trends in waste management could reduce cumulative carbon emissions by ∼2 Gt CO2-eq, material use by ∼24 Gt, and costs by ∼€680 billion compared with virgin material use. Implementing advanced circularity measures could further reduce emissions by 38-48%, material use by 7-8%, and costs by 21%. Germany, the UK, France, and Italy contribute over 70% of these benefits due to their large building stocks. While metals represent only 6% of CDW mass, they drive up to 90% of decarbonization and economic value; minerals enable over 70% of dematerialization across all scenarios. Clean energy transitions may reduce circular economy's carbon advantage as primary production also decarbonizes. Coordinated policies integrating data, technology, incentives, and holistic targets are essential to realize systemic circularity.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{zhang2026decarbonization,
  title = {{Decarbonization, Dematerialization, and Economic Gains in Circular Economy for Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Europe.}},
  author = {Chunbo Zhang and Jinxin Wang and Shuo Wang and Rupert J Myers and Julia A Stegemann},
  journal = {Environmental science \& technology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6c02401},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915409},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Decarbonization, Dematerialization, and Economic Gains in Circular Economy for Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Europe.
AU  - Chunbo Zhang
AU  - Jinxin Wang
AU  - Shuo Wang
AU  - Rupert J Myers
AU  - Julia A Stegemann
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/01
JO  - Environmental science & technology
DO  - 10.1021/acs.est.6c02401
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915409
AB  - Construction and demolition waste (CDW) offers opportunities for decarbonization, dematerialization, and economic gains through high-value-added circular management. Yet, most of this material is downcycled. This study assesses different CDW circularity strategies in the EU27 + 4 from 2010 to 2050. Results show that continuing current trends in waste management could reduce cumulative carbon emissions by ∼2 Gt CO2-eq, material use by ∼24 Gt, and costs by ∼€680 billion compared with virgin material use. Implementing advanced circularity measures could further reduce emissions by 38-48%, material use by 7-8%, and costs by 21%. Germany, the UK, France, and Italy contribute over 70% of these benefits due to their large building stocks. While metals represent only 6% of CDW mass, they drive up to 90% of decarbonization and economic value; minerals enable over 70% of dematerialization across all scenarios. Clean energy transitions may reduce circular economy's carbon advantage as primary production also decarbonizes. Coordinated policies integrating data, technology, incentives, and holistic targets are essential to realize systemic circularity.
SN  - 0013-936X
SN  - 1520-5851
ER  -