Upcycling Secondary Resources

Europe’s construction sector is a major contributor to environmental challenges, accounting for nearly 40% of total emissions and producing almost a third of all waste in the EU. The sector heavily relies on finite natural resources such as sand, gravel, and metals, whose extraction damages ecosystems and generates greenhouse gases. Despite awareness, progress toward circular… Continue reading Planet Under Construction

The water sector is increasingly adopting more sustainable and efficient practices, with the ICARUS project, led by Acciona, at the forefront of this transformation. The project aims to recover secondary resources from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and repurpose them in the construction industry, supporting the principles of the circular economy. Historically, WWTPs have been focused… Continue reading ICARUS Project: Recovery and Revaluation of Secondary Resources for Industrial Use

The construction industry is a major contributor to Europe’s carbon emissions, generating nearly a third of all waste and relying heavily on finite raw materials. With increasing concerns about climate change, the EU is focusing on shifting to a circular economy to mitigate these impacts. A new Circular Economy Action Plan, introduced as part of… Continue reading How the EU is building a circular economy into construction

The Circular Economy Act (CEA), highlighted in the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal unveiled in February 2025, is set to transform the European market by establishing a Single Market for waste and secondary raw materials. By promoting circular economy principles, the CEA aims to reduce dependency on scarce resources, enhance economic resilience, lower production costs,… Continue reading The Circular Economy Act and the ICARUS Project: Driving Europe’s Sustainable Future 

ICARUS Partner CARTIF showcased their latest research at RHODES 2024, the 11th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Rhodes, Greece. They presented a poster titled “Harnessing Secondary Resources for Sustainable and Circular Practices in the Construction Sector.” This poster introduces the paper authored by D. Hidalgo, L. Pablos, M. Gómez, J. Castro, F.… Continue reading Harnessing secondary resources for sustainable and circular practices in the construction sector