More reuse of building materials for affordable renovation

A connector between supply, demand and contractors

Domus Mundi vzw wants to make qualitative and sustainable living, living and building possible for vulnerable groups. We are a socially committed organization with construction expertise and extensive experience in the field of integral project management.

It is common knowledge that reusing building materials reduces the environmental impact of the construction sector. Through this project we want to investigate whether reuse can also contribute to the objective of increasing the affordable and qualitative supply of housing.

The research project starts from organizations and professional actors in the building sector that have a direct impact on demand, from their role as clients or because they work closely with various building owners. Thus, at the material and element level, we analyzed where financially viable reuse applications are.

Because labor costs are a major factor in the building sector, especially when it comes to reusing materials, we also investigated what role social economy can play in (building) companies to increase financial feasibility. To this end, we involved Weerwerk vzw in the partnership.

We hope to create a new market for specific materials that can be directly reused in construction projects and have a positive impact on the affordability of quality housing.

Key results

Key lessons learned
  1. This project allowed us to build on our expertise around kitchen reuse. Our process flow is becoming more efficient, with better visibility into ins and outs.
  2. Due to an increasing demand for the reuse of sanitary ware, we are starting to build up knowledge and experience in that area as well. Here, however, our process flow can still improve.
  3. We have established a recognized cooperative center with a social purpose (cvso): the Recupcentrale. It focuses on renovations (interior finishing) with reuse of building materials, and wants to develop a network of cooperators with recovery materials.
  4. At the Arsenaal site in Gentbrugge, we created a physical materials bank for second-hand building materials. It is operated by Scrap vzw.
  1. Throughout the process, we noticed an increased interest in reuse and its concrete application, both on the supply side and the demand side. The interest was stimulated by good practices that showed that renovating with reuse can be cheaper and still be of high quality.
  2. Contractors remain difficult to convince. Their interest will have to come mainly at the request of the client or architect, or due to increasing bottlenecks in supply channels. The main reasons are large discounts on new materials and (fear of) liability issues.
  3. An increasing demand for reuse of building materials can make the supply rise, but conversely, a quality supply can also make the interest in and demand for reusable materials rise.
  4. Regarding urban mining at large construction sites, it is important for the client or demolisher to contact interested parties in an organized manner and some time in advance. Currently, the timeframe used is often far too short (if at all).

What will the future bring?

We continue to renovate with reuse of building materials, meanwhile through a recognized cvso, established in October 2022. In addition, Scrap vzw, in cooperation with Recupcentrale, operates a physical materials bank at the Arsenaal site in Gentbrugge. This too is a spin-off of the past project.

Domus Mundi vzw

Partners Het Pandschap cv, Inhout bvba, Weerwerk vzw

Website

http://www.domusmundi.be/

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