What are some ways to incorporate recycled materials into a building's design?

Instead of recycling materials, we should be looking at adaptive re-use of entire buildings while invloving local communities!

In demolition, we pay to remove materials that can be easily incorporated into the new construction. So instead of paying to transport them elsewhere, pay to have new materials treated, and pay someone else for those new building materials, why not treat materials on site and re-use them locally! This is the circular economy!

Companies like CarbonCure are using captured CO2 to make concrete. This represents a permanent sequestration of CO2 which eliminates CO2 from the environment. Our world is in need of various solutions to capture and permanently sequester CO2 in order to reduce the amount of this greenhouse gas that is in the environment.

Consider using reclaimed wood for various building elements, including flooring, beams, doors, and paneling. Reclaimed wood adds character to a building while reducing the demand for new wood. Recycled metal, such as aluminum, steel, etc., can be used for cladding, structural elements, and decorative features. Crushed concrete can be used as a base material for pathways, and driveways, or as a subbase. It reduces the need for new aggregates and diverts concrete waste from landfills. Recycled ceramic tiles can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to add a touch of sustainability to your design. Use carpets and flooring made from recycled materials, like recycled nylon or polyester.

One of the best examples of recycling and reusing a building comes from post WW2 era. With the lack of materials and lots of damaged houses to repair, Germans especially women would collect bricks and materials from the war damaged buildings, process them and reuse them in rebuilding. Another best example is Hamburg's Elbephilharmonie, which used to be a port side ware house and then repurposed into a famous concert hall that attracts tourists as well as audiences given the innovation in the architure of the hall and the concert hall.

Recycled steel plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainability in the construction industry. Take Sims Limited, for example, a company specializing in the recycling and repurposing of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. They're contributing significantly to circularity and sustainability. Recycling steel not only conserves precious resources like iron ore and coal but also reduces energy consumption and the environmental footprint associated with the production of new steel. In the construction of sustainable buildings, using recycled steel not only enhances structural integrity but also aligns with the broader goal of reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices. It's a win-win for both the construction industry and the environment.

We like to use crushed glass bottle “eco sand” as an alternative to sharp sand in lime mortar for brickwork as it brings a joyful aesthetic to brickwork. We also use it generally in place of sharp sand. No aggregate tax so it’s also cheaper than the raw material. Buildings should absorb waste rather than create it. A win win.

Incorporating recycled concrete can be an effective way to promote sustainability while reducing waste. 1. **Aggregate**: It can replace a portion of the fresh aggregate used in concrete production, reducing the demand for natural resources. 2. **Decorative Elements**: Recycled crushed concrete can be polished and used as a flooring material, similarly, larger pieces can be used as part of a feature Palladiana effect. 3. **Foundation Material**: Recycled concrete can be used as a subbase layer. This reduces the need for gravel or other natural materials, helping to conserve these resources. 4. **Green Roofs and Walls**: Recycled concrete can be used as a drainage layer or as a growing medium for plants on these green roofs and walls.

I recently stayed at Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville and they have replaced their plastic key cards with a material made from recycled wood. It's extremely light, yet durable. Another win for sustainability!

As a creative using wood as an accent and decorative material to create a mural from a variety of stained reclaimed wood is a great addition to any entry of a building.

We use recycled newspaper (cellulose) insulation in all our highly insulated houses. The paper is mixed with borax to make it fire retardant and to keep it free from vermin & bugs infestations. Recycled newspaper insulation has an extremely low embodied energy too. A great product to use, especially in place of hydrocarbon insulations.

Reclaimed timber for flooring is a natural insulator and looks amazing! Giving hardwood a second Life adds character to a home.

We like to use recycled plastic damp proof membrane. Recycled polythene performs just as well as the raw material but without consuming high embodied energy raw material but instead sequestering another non biodegradable waste stream to do a really good job preventing moisture ingress in buildings.

Companies like Oceanworks are helping brands reduce their plastic footprint through their experience and network of reclaimed plastic suppliers and manufacturers. Quality, reliability, and traceability at scale are backed by the Oceanworks? Guarantee and Track & Trace technology.

Recycled plastic is emerging as a versatile and sustainable material for road construction and brick manufacturing. In road construction, recycled plastic can enhance the durability, flexibility, and lifespan of asphalt, reduce reliance on quarrying, improve load-bearing capacity, and produce durable pavement markings. In brick manufacturing, recycled plastic bricks offer strength, impact resistance, lightweight properties, insulation benefits, and contribute to sustainable construction practices. While challenges such as cost-effectiveness, quality control, industry standards, and public perception need to be addressed, recycled plastic holds immense potential for sustainable infrastructure development.

United Airlines is using recycled textiles in their new blankets and bedding as well as reclaimed materials in their amenity kits.

One thing which we've done is we used used ice cream cups to design a ceiling of an ice cream store.It looks like an art installation and people are attracted to it.We used wood from a 120 year old barn to make doors,ceilings of a villa.And roof tiles from old houses can also be used as a design element for the projects.It depends on the views and creativity of the designer to see how effectively one can incorporate recycled materials into the spaces.

The incorporation of recycled materials in the built environment requires the constructional structures to be designed for recyclability. This would help extract these materials at the time of demolition which could either be reused, remanufactured, repurposed or recycled. Dependency on other sources for recycled materials puts a pressure on that industry without reducing demand for virgin sources. Eg: Recycling plastic from PET bottles for construction usage is not a sustainable technique. Lastly, care must be taken that the recycling doesn't contribute to additional problems to the environment & society at large.

Apart from recycled materials that go into the building, buildings can also be adapted to support recycling activities of its users, for example waste collection technology for both residential and commercial use. One such example is the the creation of aggregation facilities for waste are built into the building’s design which simplifies or optimises the ability of waste aggregators to comply with certification requirements for the deployment of such waste into their respective second lives.