Sustainable Materials

Measurable ambitions for the design and management, which are determined in advance, are crucial. The starting point of the design should be that as many existing land areas as possible should be substances, materials and plants can be used in a high-quality way. Where new products, raw materials or materials are needed, circular solutions are chosen as much as possible: solutions that have a positive impact on the landscape, biodiversity and the local economy. This also includes the detachability of the individual materials and adapted maintenance and ownership contracts for the longer term. The circular economy also brings with it new revenue models. Another important starting point in the design phase is to leave the existing landscape properties intact as much as possible. For example, let a building be a ‘guest’ in the landscape, so that existing soil and green structures are preserved.

Socially responsible and circular procurement is the way to effectively contribute to the realisation of a living public space. Rapid Circular Contracting (RCC) is an alternative to traditional forms of procurement. In this procurement method, the market is challenged as much as possible to come up with necessary, smart and innovative solutions in which circularity, sustainability and social return are central.

Maintenance can be a recurring burden on people and the environment. It is important to choose materials that have a lifespan that fits the useful life of the product and its future application. In a circular economy, the supplier often remains responsible for maintenance and takes back the product at the end of its lifecycle. Making the right choice in this regard is therefore of great influence on the proper maintenance of the sustainable design. Involve (green) professionals with knowledge of the subject and opt for an integrated approach. In order to achieve the intended goal, it is important that other areas of expertise such as management, sewerage, ecology, traffic, nature and landscape, etc. are involved in the plan development from the start.

It is more sustainable to use the existing soil as a basis (closed soil balance) than to excavate, move and replace it. Soil improvement can occur with natural raw materials such as solid organic granular fertilisers or compost that become incorporated by the soil life. Nutrients are released and the soil structure is improved. Active application of earthworms helps to improve the existing soil.

Surface water can be cleaned for reuse with the help of special plants, for example with helophyte filters.

Attention paid to the (genetic) origin, cultivation method and contribution on plants to biodiversity are all elements that contribute to circularity. In principle, all nature-based elements, including urban greenery, are essentially circular in all facets and this concept should be pursued. For example, pruning or leaf waste can be mulched, composted or fermented locally.

In plant selection and specification, it is important that the right plant/tree is placed in the right place with the right precautions. The (re)use of local materials, products and local plants strengthens the identity of the location.

Encourage the use of sustainably grown plants and motivate the right plants in the right place for the right purpose. Gain insight into the impact of cultivation and transport on the environment. Choose your own planting in line with the soil type and groundwater levels (planting location).

Plants native to the area may enhance a natural image and can strengthen the natural cohesion and local biodiversity. Local or on-site propagation of planting material may be achieved for some species by dividing up perennials, sowing seed and taking cuttings.

If new raw materials are needed, it is essential to choose renewable/regenerable/biobased materials with a low ecological impact and of local origin, integrated into a detachable design (see PIANOo’s Detachability Guide: www.pianoo.nl/nl/handreiking-losmaakbaarheid). Remain critical of the materials to be used. Consider the effect the material used has on natural resources. Insight into the origin of the primary raw materials is valuable. Nowadays, there are many biobased products on the market that have a beneficial effect on the CO2 footprint, as (more) CO2 is sequestered in the product than is consumed in the production process.

Choose a product that is not a scarce resource. Choose European or FSC-certified (hard) wood or wood from known forest locations instead of unlabelled tropical hardwood. Or choose an alternative product that is made of material that grows quickly, such as roadside grass.

A product that has multiple functions is often more durable. For example, furniture that can be used for sitting and exercising. This limits the use of raw materials and CO2 emissions in the production process. Look for opportunities for insects and mammals to shelter in the design. In this way, biodiversity in the area is also promoted.

Product-as-a-service is a simple way to stimulate circularity in public spaces. Products are loaned out by means of lease contracts. When the supplier retains ownership, this is a very strong incentive to use materials that last a long time and to develop products that can be dismantled and built modularly. The parts are then easily replaceable and suitable for reuse. It is not the product but the performance that is important within this model. A good example is Philips, which, as a manufacturer, does not supply a fixture and lamp, but the service; providing lighting.

The sharing economy promotes sharing goods, services, space (shared land or shared gardens) and mobility. This leads to a reduction in raw material consumption and waste. Consider repair cafes and neighbourhood which lend equipment such as power tools and outdoor toys in the neighbourhood.

There are many frameworks that define circularity. In the Netherlands, the Insert Foundation reviews circularity in the construction, civil and green sectors. The starting point is to use existing materials and raw materials of the highest quality. Sometimes this means that a material can be reused one-to-one (re-use). Other times it means that an action is required before it can be used again (refurbish). Existing building materials can be used in the public sector with the help of urban mining (the mining of urban waste), which leads to a new application. And existing greenery can be moved from one location to another. A mature healthy tree is more than worth moving when considering the ecosystem services that such a tree provides. Investing in the relocation of existing greenery (with the right green knowledge) fits perfectly into a circular working method.

In Europe, Cirkelstad is a national platform connecting private entrepreneurs and policy-makers who are delivering the transition to a circular economy in pioneering Dutch cities. The platform provides a comprehensive database of good practices, research and policy guidelines to inspire practitioners, and the Cirkelstad Academie delivers occasional training sessions and advisory services to aspiring circular projects in Utrecht and Amsterdam. Links to national circularity agendas are also included. In the construction sector, circularity is achieved through returning any materials released during the demolition, renovation or management of buildings to the cycle.

Materials may be used in new products with an equivalent application. Municipal yards and recycling centres are also changing their function, such as in Almere, where an Upcycle Centre was opened in 2018.

In order to consider public space as a temporary store of materials in the spirit of the circular economy, knowledge of their composition is essential. With a raw material plan and bill of materials, an insight into the degree of sustainability may be determined for each material.

This is done on the basis of labels, quality marks, etc. that suggest reuse possibilities and/or own research. Tools have been developed to assist, such as the environmental cost indicator (ECI), eco-invent database (TU Delft) and/or the impact tool (FSC) or a relevant Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

Which product is sustainable? How is sustainability actually measured and on what basis? NL Greenlabel has developed a methodology to provide insight into the sustainability of products, materials and plants. The sustainability passport considers the entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials through production and (re)use to final processing.

NL Greenlabel’s sustainability passport can be used to make circularity measurable.