Sustainability in Full Circle
By Alice Bodill-Maher, Marketing Manager, Structure Tone London
The construction sector accounts for around 50% of all raw material extraction globally and 62% of material waste in the UK, figures so stark they can no longer be ignored. High above the city, in a space which defines circular design, a group of architects, engineers, contractors and policy shapers gathered to talk seriously about the circular economy and how we can ensure our buildings are designed to renew themselves over time.
A Circular Revolution
Hosted by UK Architects Declare, the aptly titled ‘A Circular Revolution’, brought together more than 400 industry leaders to explore the importance of better circularity in the built environment. Not as an abstract ideal but as a practical, urgent shift in how we design, procure and build.
The event took place at one of London’s most recognisable circular landmarks, the London Eye. As the wheel turned above the city, voices from across the industry reflected on how circular principles are already being tested and what we can all pledge to do better to drive deeper, cross-disciplinary collaboration to build a truly circular economy.
How can our industry do better?
There was a clear call to make reuse the default choice, treating every building and every component as a valuable asset. This was paired with a strong emphasis on embedding design for deconstruction and adaptability from the very earliest stages.
A Circular Revolution stands as a symbol of a wider commitment to breaking down silos with a shared responsibility to act in the long-term interests of the planet.
The challenge now is how these ideas are translated into practice. Without urgent action, the built environment may continue to cause ecological damage and resource insecurity, placing us on course to miss our carbon reduction targets.
In summary, the pledges emerging from the pod discussions were to:
- Prioritise building reuse and treat materials as long-term assets
- Unlock creativity to embed circularity at the earliest stages
- Share knowledge, data and case studies openly
- Build the markets and infrastructure needed to support reuse
- Invest in skills across the sector and advocate with a unified voice
“Yes, reuse is hard”
Following the London Eye, the conversation continued at Sustainable Ventures, where drinks, canapés and networking made space for more candid discussion. The main event was a series of talks hosted by architect and circular economy pioneer Duncan Baker-Brown, with speakers sharing the challenges they face within their own disciplines.
Among them was our Head of Sustainability, Nicola Forest, who spoke openly and honestly about the difficulty of procuring the right reused materials that meet quality, specification and commercial requirements. We also need to persuade teams to choose the right option rather than the easy one. Her words resonated with many in the room:
“Reuse is hard. It’s complex. Sometimes, it’s a bit of a pain. But when we get it right, it’s incredibly powerful.”
Collaboration vs. competition
As the evening drew on, one idea kept resurfacing: collaboration matters more than competition. Sharing risks and learnings across disciplines are essential if the sector is serious about change. We cannot ensure built environment circularity alone; it’s a team effort.
Our own commitment is clear. As part of our Sustainability Strategy, we have pledged to make sustainable choices with responsible impact and reduce our raw material use by 40% by 2030. This is through championing the measurement of recycled content, ensuring design sensitivity, responsible sourcing and utilising buildings as material banks to make reuse the rule rather than the exception.
The question now is whether the wider industry is ready to move with the same intent, shared effort, informed policy and the courage to do things differently.
To explore the full findings and see how you can play your part, read the event round-up from UK Architects Declare hereGo to https://bed-dev.com/uploads/UK-AD-assets/Circular-Revolution_Event-Round-Up_Final_20251124.pdf.