To achieve the goals of Canada’s climate plan and move towards net-zero emissions by 2050, all industries need to play their part. A significant opportunity to reduce the Canada’s and the world’s carbon footprint is through sustainable construction. Over the next while, FPInnovations will be highlighting many aspects surrounding the benefits and role of sustainable construction towards a healthier environment and stronger economy.
Canada has a long tradition of building with wood. During recent years, the emergence of new engineered-wood products and changes to building codes have led to innovative wood-based systems for constructing larger and taller buildings that are both safe and cost-competitive, while also responding to increasing environmental concerns.
FPInnovations has been putting a great deal of effort into facilitating the use of wood, a bio-sourced and renewable construction material, in taller and larger buildings.
As part of putting a spotlight on sustainable construction, we start with presenting efforts to implement circular economy practices in construction to make it more sustainable.
Design buildings for later reuse and recycling: a way to further reduce the carbon footprint of construction?
More than 50% of waste from the construction sector is wood in various forms. This is why it is relevant to encourage wood reuse and recycling.
FPInnovations researchers and their partners have designed a 6-storey, light wood-frame residential building that allows source reduction, reuse, and recycling at the end of its useful life.
For more information: Summary | Full report (in French only)
An acceleration laboratory partner for circular economy in the construction sector
The team at the Centre d’études et de recherches intersectorielles en économie circulaire (CERIEC) and at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) is setting up their first acceleration laboratory which focuses on the construction sector in Quebec: a sector that represents 7.7% of our GDP and a major generator of heterogeneous residual materials.
This lab will allow CERIEC and ÉTS to co-identify with stakeholders the roadblocks/obstacles to circularity of targeted resources, and then co-create circular economy strategies applicable to the construction sector. Initial co-creation activities have led to the identification of six projects, including one to be led by FPInnovations, where researchers will investigate building design principles for adaptability and disassembly at the end of life. The results will be used to develop a roadmap for the industry.
The lab will also support businesses interested in leveraging the technologies and knowledge developed, potentially leading to new entrepreneurial opportunities or collaborations.
For more information:
- https://www.quebeccirculaire.org/articles/h/un-laboratoire-d-acceleration-en-economie-circulaire-dans-le-secteur-de-la-construction.html
- https://www.etsmtl.ca/nouvelles/2021/economie-circulaire-construction-ets-desjardins