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Purpose <p>Recycling and reusing building components has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing sustainability in the construction sector. While it offers significant potential for reducing the environmental impact of new buildings, reuse has yet to be comprehensively implemented at the national level. To address this, we analyzed the evolution of Denmark’s building stock to quantify the reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) achieved by incorporating materials from demolished buildings into new construction.</p> Method <p>The evolution of the building stock was analyzed by calculating the amount of demolished and newly constructed structures across seven building types. We then evaluated the quantities of salvaged materials from demolitions that could be employed through reuse or recycling in new buildings. Two scenarios were considered: one reflecting current practices in Denmark for reusing and recycling salvaged materials and an optimistic scenario in which 100% of recoverable materials could be reused or recycled. The optimistic scenario is set to theoretically benchmark the potential benefits of reuse and recycling, but it cannot be practically achieved by any current means or technological advancement. Finally, using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, we calculated the environmental benefits of reusing and recycling materials.</p> Results and discussion <p>Currently, approximately 4% of materials in new buildings are replaced with reused components, a figure that could rise to 27% nationally under the optimistic scenario. In some municipalities, the reuse potential could exceed 80%. Present reuse and recycling practices reduce environmental impacts by about 8%, but under optimal conditions, this could increase to 22%, with reductions reaching up to 70% in certain regions. Detached houses and commercial buildings were identified as the key drivers of these benefits.</p> Conclusions <p>This research underscores the transformative potential of ambitious reuse strategies while highlighting the need for tailored approaches that consider regional and typological differences. Advancing material reuse policies and systems can play a pivotal role in fostering sustainability in the construction industry.</p>

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Recycling and reusing a robust solution, or a utopia for lowering the greenhouse gas emissions of buildings? The case of Denmark

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月8日

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  • Endrit Hoxha,
  • Harpa Birgisdottir

摘要

Purpose

Recycling and reusing building components has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing sustainability in the construction sector. While it offers significant potential for reducing the environmental impact of new buildings, reuse has yet to be comprehensively implemented at the national level. To address this, we analyzed the evolution of Denmark’s building stock to quantify the reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) achieved by incorporating materials from demolished buildings into new construction.

Method

The evolution of the building stock was analyzed by calculating the amount of demolished and newly constructed structures across seven building types. We then evaluated the quantities of salvaged materials from demolitions that could be employed through reuse or recycling in new buildings. Two scenarios were considered: one reflecting current practices in Denmark for reusing and recycling salvaged materials and an optimistic scenario in which 100% of recoverable materials could be reused or recycled. The optimistic scenario is set to theoretically benchmark the potential benefits of reuse and recycling, but it cannot be practically achieved by any current means or technological advancement. Finally, using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, we calculated the environmental benefits of reusing and recycling materials.

Results and discussion

Currently, approximately 4% of materials in new buildings are replaced with reused components, a figure that could rise to 27% nationally under the optimistic scenario. In some municipalities, the reuse potential could exceed 80%. Present reuse and recycling practices reduce environmental impacts by about 8%, but under optimal conditions, this could increase to 22%, with reductions reaching up to 70% in certain regions. Detached houses and commercial buildings were identified as the key drivers of these benefits.

Conclusions

This research underscores the transformative potential of ambitious reuse strategies while highlighting the need for tailored approaches that consider regional and typological differences. Advancing material reuse policies and systems can play a pivotal role in fostering sustainability in the construction industry.