Mass timber installation – Fast + Epp Headquarters
Photography: Michael Elkan
Canada’s construction sector generates one-third of total solid waste in Canada (equal to more than 4 million tonnes of waste per year). Much of the value from these waste materials and resources are currently being lost from Canada’s economy at end of life. The circular economy has come to the forefront as a solution for moving away from today’s linear “take-make-waste economy” by helping keep materials and resources in use for as long as possible.
This report provides an overview of the circular economy in the built environment in Canada and explains the concept of Design for Disassembly and Adaptability (DfD/A) to expand the lifespan of buildings. It also talks about Mass timber as a renewable product – and an important player in the circular economy – and offers a series of recommendations to embrace the adoption of circularity in Canada.
This report was prepared by Delphi Group in partnership with SCIUS Advisory and published on April 9, 2021.