Exploration of Urban Mining role in the recovery of post-consumption construction materials and components.
Author
Sollenni, Giulia
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-28
Abstract
Dette kvalitative speciale undersøger, hvordan Urban Mining som cirkulær økonomistrategi kan understøtte genindvindingen af materialer og komponenter efter endt brug i byggeri. Baggrunden er byggebranchens store ressourceforbrug og affaldsmængder i Europa. Gennem tretten eksplorative og to dybdegående casestudier – suppleret af litteraturstudie, desk research, observationer og semistrukturerede interviews – kortlægger projektet, hvilke cirkulære strategier virksomheder anvender for at holde kasserede materialer i kredsløb, herunder genbrug, omdannelse og upcycling. Analysen af samspillet mellem disse strategier og Urban Mining peger på, at Urban Mining kan spille en væsentlig rolle ved at ændre forståelsen af kasserede byggematerialer fra værdiløst affald til værdifulde ressourcer. Specialet peger på, at en overgang til mere cirkulært byggeri bør omfatte virksomheder, der arbejder med forskellige cirkulære strategier, samt initiativer, der muliggør lokal genindvinding af materialer og komponenter fra det urbane miljø. Undersøgelsen søger desuden at belyse de barrierer og fordele, der kan være forbundet med denne genindvinding.
This qualitative thesis examines how Urban Mining, as a circular economy strategy, can support the recovery of post-use materials and components from buildings. Motivated by the construction sector’s high resource use and waste generation in Europe, the study combines desk research, literature review, observations, and semi-structured interviews with thirteen exploratory and two in-depth case studies. It maps the circular strategies companies apply to keep discarded materials in circulation—such as reuse, repurpose, and upcycling—and analyzes how these strategies intersect with Urban Mining. Findings indicate that Urban Mining can play an important role by reframing discarded building materials as valuable resources rather than waste. The thesis suggests that a transition toward a circular construction sector should involve businesses implementing diverse circular strategies and initiatives that enable local recovery of post-consumption materials and components from urban areas. The study also seeks to shed light on the barriers and benefits associated with such recovery.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Documents