The transition towards a more circular built environment was the focus of discussion during the Circular Construction & Materials Innovation session held on 6 May 2026 at the EU Sustainable Construction event in Brussels.

Moderated by Laura Pallares from the World Green Building Council, the session brought together representatives from European institutions, industry, research and investment organisations to examine the challenges and enabling conditions linked to scaling circular construction across Europe.

The panel featured:

• Barbara Bonvissuto, DG GROW, European Commission
• Josefina Lindblom, DG ENV, European Commission
• Anita Gianelli, EURIMA
• Victoria Kate Burrows, Kompas VC
• Carolin Spirinckx, VITO and the Drastic Project

Representing Drastic, Carolin Spirinckx highlighted the importance of ensuring that circular approaches are assessed consistently and transparently across environmental, economic and social dimensions. The discussion emphasised that robust methodologies and reliable data are essential to support credible decision-making and avoid circularity claims that are not sufficiently evidence based.

The session explored several structural barriers that continue to affect the wider uptake of circular solutions in the construction sector. Key discussion points included:

• Fragmented market uptake of existing circular construction solutions.
• Limitations in current assessment methods, which do not always capture long-term circular value and impacts.
• Regulatory, technical and economic barriers affecting secondary material markets.
• The role of public procurement in supporting lifecycle-based approaches.
• The need for shared methodologies, clearer frameworks and improved data transparency across the value chain.

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was that innovation alone will not be enough to transform the sector. Participants highlighted the need for stronger alignment between policy ambition, market conditions and implementation practices to support circular construction at scale.

The discussion reflected several challenges currently being addressed through the Drastic Project, which is working to support the transition towards a more circular, low-carbon and resource-efficient built environment through improved assessment approaches and decision-making frameworks.

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