Re-Using Waste as Secondary Raw
Material to Enhance Performances
of Concrete Components in Reducing
Environmental Impacts
Andrea Tartaglia
Abstract This essay outlines the circular economy in the construction sector starting
from the study entitled “Ethical concrete” in which techniques for the reuse of glass
collection waste have been experimented to reduce the impacts of concrete products
and improve their performances. In particular, the non-reusable waste derived by the
separated collection of glass can find in the urban sector and in concrete production
an interesting opportunity for application as a secondary raw material.
Keywords Secondary raw material · Foam glass · Environmental impacts ·
Production and waste management
1 Environmental Issues and the Building Sector
Over the last two decades, issues such as climate change, environmental degradation,
sustainable use of the resources, economic development and urban resilience have
become more and more strictly connected topics in global, European and national
politics. On this subject are focused many development strategies, research funding
programs, global and local initiatives. Many solutions find a convergence in the model
of the so-called circular economy.
1 Moreover, a better use and reuse of resources, the
reduction of emission during the productive processes and of the carbon footprint
of products is fundamental to support the necessary transition to a climate-neutral
1 For the European Commission the circular economy is an economy in which “the value of products,
materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as possible, and the generation
of waste minimized, is an essential contribution to the EU’s efforts to develop a sustainable, low
carbon, resource efficient and competitive economy. Such transition is the opportunity to transform
our economy and generate new and sustainable competitive advantages for Europe” (European
Commission 2015).
A. Tartaglia (B)
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department, Politecnico di
Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: andrea.tartaglia@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_22
229
Material to Enhance Performances
of Concrete Components in Reducing
Environmental Impacts
Andrea Tartaglia
Abstract This essay outlines the circular economy in the construction sector starting
from the study entitled “Ethical concrete” in which techniques for the reuse of glass
collection waste have been experimented to reduce the impacts of concrete products
and improve their performances. In particular, the non-reusable waste derived by the
separated collection of glass can find in the urban sector and in concrete production
an interesting opportunity for application as a secondary raw material.
Keywords Secondary raw material · Foam glass · Environmental impacts ·
Production and waste management
1 Environmental Issues and the Building Sector
Over the last two decades, issues such as climate change, environmental degradation,
sustainable use of the resources, economic development and urban resilience have
become more and more strictly connected topics in global, European and national
politics. On this subject are focused many development strategies, research funding
programs, global and local initiatives. Many solutions find a convergence in the model
of the so-called circular economy.
1 Moreover, a better use and reuse of resources, the
reduction of emission during the productive processes and of the carbon footprint
of products is fundamental to support the necessary transition to a climate-neutral
1 For the European Commission the circular economy is an economy in which “the value of products,
materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as possible, and the generation
of waste minimized, is an essential contribution to the EU’s efforts to develop a sustainable, low
carbon, resource efficient and competitive economy. Such transition is the opportunity to transform
our economy and generate new and sustainable competitive advantages for Europe” (European
Commission 2015).
A. Tartaglia (B)
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department, Politecnico di
Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: andrea.tartaglia@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_22
229