Circular Economy and Regeneration
of Building Stock: Policy Improvements,
Stakeholder Networking and Life Cycle
Tools
Serena Giorgi, Monica Lavagna and Andrea Campioli
Abstract This chapter shows the results of a study carried out on the application
of circular economy principles throughout the building stock regeneration process,
highlighting the challenges, the opportunities and several key themes for future
research. The methodology of research is based on a literature review and on-field
investigation through direct interviews with operators and stakeholders of the
building value chain, on a European level. At first, the chapter shows the
importance of applying the circular economy concept to the built environment and
the crucial role of the building level. After that, the chapter looks into the parallel
issue of the current necessity to renovate a large part of existing buildings.
Consequently, the opportunities and the challenges in linking the circular economy
to building stock regeneration are discussed. Secondly, the chapter identifies the
strategies to support the transition towards a sustainable circular building
regeneration process, identifying the policy improvements necessary to promote
circular strategies during the building process, the strategic partnership useful to
activate profitable and sustainable circular business, and the environmental and
economic life-cycle assessment tools for supporting decisions and for verifying that
the implementation of circular strategies is actually sustainable from an economic
and environmental life cycle point of view.
Keywords Life cycle sustainability · Stakeholders · Building process · CDW
management · Business models
1 Introduction
«Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is
either a madman or an economist» said K. Boulding in 1966 (Boulding 1966), in
order to introduce a necessary change in the relationship between economy and
S. Giorgi (B) · M. Lavagna · A. Campioli
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department, Politecnico di
Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: serena.giorgi@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_27
291
of Building Stock: Policy Improvements,
Stakeholder Networking and Life Cycle
Tools
Serena Giorgi, Monica Lavagna and Andrea Campioli
Abstract This chapter shows the results of a study carried out on the application
of circular economy principles throughout the building stock regeneration process,
highlighting the challenges, the opportunities and several key themes for future
research. The methodology of research is based on a literature review and on-field
investigation through direct interviews with operators and stakeholders of the
building value chain, on a European level. At first, the chapter shows the
importance of applying the circular economy concept to the built environment and
the crucial role of the building level. After that, the chapter looks into the parallel
issue of the current necessity to renovate a large part of existing buildings.
Consequently, the opportunities and the challenges in linking the circular economy
to building stock regeneration are discussed. Secondly, the chapter identifies the
strategies to support the transition towards a sustainable circular building
regeneration process, identifying the policy improvements necessary to promote
circular strategies during the building process, the strategic partnership useful to
activate profitable and sustainable circular business, and the environmental and
economic life-cycle assessment tools for supporting decisions and for verifying that
the implementation of circular strategies is actually sustainable from an economic
and environmental life cycle point of view.
Keywords Life cycle sustainability · Stakeholders · Building process · CDW
management · Business models
1 Introduction
«Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is
either a madman or an economist» said K. Boulding in 1966 (Boulding 1966), in
order to introduce a necessary change in the relationship between economy and
S. Giorgi (B) · M. Lavagna · A. Campioli
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department, Politecnico di
Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: serena.giorgi@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_27
291