Circularity & Construction

Concrete is 100% recyclable after demolition. Recycling concrete from construction and demolition waste (C&DW) reduces dependence on primary raw materials and diverts waste from landfill.

Recycled concrete can be used in three main ways:

As recycled aggregate in new concrete.
As recycled aggregate in unbound applications, such as road construction or earthworks.
As fine particles from crushed concrete used as secondary raw materials in clinker and cement production (EN 197-6).

The choice of application should balance sustainability, local availability, and long-term performance.

Each year, Europe generates 450–500 million tonnes of C&DW, at least one-third of which is concrete. The European Commission is taking action to improve recycling rates through the upcoming Circular Economy Act, which aims to:

Create a Single Market for secondary raw materials.
Increase the supply and demand for high-quality recycled materials.
Accelerate the shift toward a circular construction model.

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