Renovering av S-huset : Med återanvändning av gips i fokus

Purpose: Reusing plasterboards instead of installing new ones can contribute to significant environmental benefits by extending the product's life span and avoiding emissions from new production. However, this approach introduces challenges in terms of time, cost, and logistics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reuse of plasterboards in a large-scale renovation project (S-huset at Mälardalen university) from technical, economic, and environmental perspectives. The goal was to determine whether plasterboard reuse is a viable method within sustainable construction. Method: The methods used in this study included a literature review, interviews with key professionals involved in the project (a site manager and a construction worker), and engineering-based analyses such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost/time calculations. Results: The results show that dismantling plasterboards for reuse takes on average five times longer and costs five times more than conventional demolition. This corresponds to an additional labor cost of approximately SEK 90 per board. For the entire project, this equates to a cost increase of SEK 329 490 in labor, while material reuse reduces procurement costs by SEK 158,102. From an environmental perspective, reusing plasterboards extends the material’s lifespan and reduces its climate impact compared to recycling. However, the process is labor-intensive and presents practical challenges such as storage, handling, and the risk of material damage. Conclusions: Reuse of plasterboards offers environmental advantages and supports the goals of circular construction. However, it is currently not economically competitive without financial incentives or optimized workflows. The results of this pilot project indicate that while reuse is technically feasible, it demands significantly more labor and thus increases total project costs. Efficient project planning and collaboration between contractors and clients are crucial to balancing environmental benefits with practical and financial constraints. Keywords: Reused plasterboards, life cycle assessment, sustainable construction, carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e), cost analysis