Circular Economy

What is Circular Economy?

The circular economy is a smarter, more sustainable way of designing, building, and consuming. It’s built on three core principles:

• Eliminate waste and pollution

• Keep materials in use

• Regenerate natural systems

Unlike the traditional take-make-dispose model, circular systems prioritise reuse, repair, and recycling—maximising resource value and minimising environmental impact.

Circular Economy in Construction

As one of the largest waste-generating sectors, construction has a vital role to play. Circular design means creating buildings that are:

• Flexible and adaptable

• Easy to disassemble

• Built with reused or recycled materials

This approach reduces reliance on virgin resources and cuts down on demolition waste.

How Mainer Associates Can Help

We support clients across all RIBA stages with:

• Circular Economy Statements to meet planning conditions

• Project-specific advice aligned with circular principles

• Material efficiency strategies including reuse, recycling, and disassembly

• Circularity scoring using LCA software to quantify impact

Our goal is to help you design buildings that are future-proof, resource-efficient, and planning-compliant.