Circular economy principles and low-carbon building materials

Emissions:

21,709 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent

Responsible party:

Housing and Construction Authority (HMS), Green Building Council Iceland, Reykjavík City, and the Federation of Icelandic Industries

Description:

The goal is to reduce carbon emissions from building materials used in new construction in Reykjavík by promoting the use of low-carbon and recycled building materials. The action includes raising awareness among contractors and suppliers about sustainable procurement, revising regulations to allow greater reuse, encouraging selective demolition and promoting research on low-carbon building materials.

The Icelandic roadmap for greener construction to 2030 outlines specific actions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of building materials. A regulation on life cycle assessment (LCA) for new buildings will soon be implemented as part of a regulatory change taking effect Sept. 1, 2025, along with the implementation of reference values in 2028. These regulations will address significant carbon emissions from building materials, which are among the largest emission factors in the construction sector.

A circular economy will be promoted by encouraging the use of recycled and reused building materials and selective demolition. Regulations and guidelines will be adapted to facilitate the reuse of building materials and thus further reduce emissions. Additionally, a newly published research roadmap (Guide to Greener Construction) includes several actions and research proposals aimed at improving the sustainability of building materials in Iceland.

• More about emission-free construction sites

Emissions category:

Chemical use and industry