CircularWOOD – Towards Circularity in Timber Construction in the German Context

The circular economy can pave the way to achieve ambitious sustainability goals. A major perpetrator of resource and material waste is the building sector. A lot of research results already provide innovative technologies and solutions for circular construction. However, what many of the circular economy initiatives in the construction sector have in common, is a certain malaise in moving from pilot projects with high individual engagement to actions on a larger scale. Prefabricated timber construction is one of the most promising key technologies towards a more resource efficient Europe. Despite this potential, downcycling or an early thermic utilization is common practice. Valuable resources are wasted and already captured CO₂ is released. The research project circularWOOD aims to provide a better understanding for potentials and barriers in a first step. This paper outlines first findings. Prefabrication and element design facilitate circular construction approaches. The context in which stakeholder implement circular construction approaches is widened. A wide range of economic and ecological aspects is supplemented with cultural, political, and regulatory conditions. Under the premise of reuse with a minimum of necessary adaptation structural aspects are evaluated. The results show a current concentration on new construction with easy-to-implement design approaches. Further efforts towards strategies for the reuse of existing construction and experiences to facilitate the diffusion within the timber construction sector are required.