Circular Living

The construction industry produces over 800 million tonnes of waste each year. This represents one third of total EU annual waste production.

This waste is a product of our current model for using materials. At present we operate a linear economy, using a ‘take-make-dispose’ model. This approach is unsustainable; it degenerates natural capital and creates waste faster than the biosphere can respond. But how do we escape?

The circular economy is part of the answer. In the circular economy, value is preserved by avoiding or postponing disposal, while utility is maximized through sharing assets and optimising resource use. It is a movement of commercial and social imagination, inspiring new products, processes, and ways of living.  The circular economy is a commercial opportunity; just rethinking how we use current technologies could save $600bn globally per annum by 2025.

With this exhibition, Circular Living, we explore the state-of-the-art products inspired by the circular economy. We present the opportunities and challenges that this way of thinking presents.

Circular Living is a collaboration between The Built Environment Trust and Arup. The exhibition sits alongside the Circular Building (located outside), an exploration by Arup, Frener & Reifer, BAM and The Built Environment Trust of circular economy principles in the construction industry and its supply chain.

Our dedicated Circular Living content page showcases all the exhibits, exploring their circular story with interviews from the designers, makers and thought leaders.