Cradle to Cradle – Measuring Circularity in Products and Building Materials

The construction sector is one of the most significant contributors to global CO₂ emissions, accounting for approximately 37% of energy- and processing-related carbon dioxide emissions worldwide (UNEP, 2022). As the industry seeks to reduce its environmental impact, bio-based materials are emerging as a promising solution for more sustainable construction sector. Certification plays a critical role in this transformation, providing a robust framework for validating the sustainability, performance, and environmental credentials of these innovative bio-based materials.This informative event organised by the EU-research project 3-CO and BioReCer, was held on 25 February 2025, at 13:00 CEST. Itexplored the broad landscape of bio-based materials and their diverse applications. The webinar will cover crucial aspects of sustainable construction, including: The importance of certification for bio-based products,Sustainable building design, conception, and planning,Material recommendations,Building passports as tools for capturing and communicating building data, material composition, and environmental performance,Circularity indicators and their role in assessing a building’s sustainability, including the new ISO 59040 standard for Product Circularity Data Sheets, which emphasises circular concepts such as design for disassembly.Different assessment methods for sustainability of buildings and for constructions, including the Quality Seal for Sustainable Buildings (QNG), e.g., CO₂-footprint for buildings.This is the presentation held by Hein van Tuijl, head of EPEA Benelux. EPEA has been at the forefront of developint the revised ISO 59040 trying to establish effective cirularity indicators in products and certification.