What do we take into account when buying a product? Usability, price and aesthetics would be the most widespread answers, but in an increasingly informed society, other features are valued. Thus, sustainable products, obsolescence and eco-design are concepts that are increasingly known and requested. Some examples of these materials would be:

• By reusing the geosylex and the construction ashes, slabs, beams or hydraulic tiles can be produced.
• Remains of adhesive, cement and other chemicals make it difficult to reuse floors. A new technology allows to clean, shred and recycle the old vinyl to give them a second life.
• The iron and steel aggregate, i.e., the waste generated during the steel manufacturing process, can be used to create paving stones, kerbs, tiles, etc. It is also used in the creation of road asphalt, footings and acoustic bricks.
• Concrete waste from construction and demolition (or concrete DCR) can be used for the construction of walkways, esplanades or building foundations.
• Today, we not only reuse tangible materials, but also use microorganisms found in the air and greenhouse gases (Co2) to create a natural biomaterial and turn it into products. This material is called AirCarbon.

With all these products, the use of resources and the reuse of raw materials are the main priorities, in other words, the optimization of materials and waste, which is the basic principle of the circular economy.

The circular economy is a system of reuse of resources that aims to be respectful of the environment through a series of actions that will give the product a longer life or a second life.

This new paradigm aims to close the life cycle of products and escape the current linear system of “use and throw away”. The circular economy is a common improvement for both companies and consumers, the reuse of resources is more profitable than its creation, as a result, production prices are reduced in the same way as the selling price, thus benefiting the consumer. Not only do we improve the social and environmental aspect, but also the economic one.

How to change to a circular economy? Traditionally in waste management was extended the model of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), now, thanks to the circular economy, we have been able to expand these actions to 7Rs to focus on a responsible and sustainable society. This is how we have been creating products like the ones seen before, where they give a second life to resources that we used to discard.

ITeC is committed to the circular economy by offering the construction sector the resources and measures necessary for you, as a professional, to implement this new system in your day to day, through our software TCQi GMA with which you can have the calculation of the environmental impact of your work.

Since the foundation we promote the reuse of materials such as recycled aggregates, PVC, paper, etc. On the other hand, we believe that the environmental calculation of your projects is a fundamental action to take this step towards a circular economy, therefore and thanks to TCQi GMA, you will be able, among other things, to calculate the waste management, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, to implement the current regulations and to know the content of pre-consumption and post-consumption recycling as well as the % of dismantling. If you want to know more about the tool, access our website.

If you want to green your projects, contact us at ambiental@itec.es

Working for a better future, with you.