Circular Raw Materials Corridor Utrecht

To explore, from multiple perspectives, how reuse in the construction sector can become the standard practice.

• At least four pilot projects will be realized, aimed at implementing circular reuse concepts in the city of Utrecht (output indicator: PSI1). Through the use of circular reuse streams, we will achieve savings of at least 1,100 tonnes of CO₂ (simplified calculation) compared to the production of primary materials. This is approximately equivalent to 5,000,000 kilometres driven by an average passenger car, which corresponds to travelling around the Earth at least 125 times.
• This project supports the activation of underutilized labour potential by creating employment opportunities, training people with distance to the labour market, and involving students. The project is expected to contribute directly (and indirectly to an even greater extent) to:
• 20 additional jobs supporting the transition to a circular economy, including within companies participating as ERDF partners in the project;
• 20 training trajectories for individuals with distance to the labour market. Within this ERDF project, both Level-5 and Adex Groep place strong emphasis on training personnel for value-chain collaboration based on reuse. Each year, 4 to 6 participants will start training at Adex Groep. Within the pilot project of the circular hub, individuals with distance to the labour market will be trained as specialists in material processing for reuse and as specialists in selective demolition aimed at the reuse of construction materials;
• 20 students, including those from Hogeschool Utrecht, involved in various project activities through materials engineering, process organization, and economic design studies. The involvement of students will generate insights and solutions for the development of value-chain collaboration within the region;
• The further development and validation of one matchmaking tool to support the reuse of construction materials, namely the Repurpose tool “MateriaalScout”;
• The development and validation of one collaboration tool to support value-chain cooperation, namely the GBN tool “Platform Circulaire Grondstoffencorridor Utrecht”;
• At least seven frontrunners in the construction sector will engage in structural and intensive collaboration to coordinate, implement, and further stimulate the active reuse of construction materials in the city of Utrecht. In addition to the Circulaire Grondstoffencorridor Utrecht consortium, several additional partners are involved, including at least seven collaborating partners that have already committed to the project through letters of intent at the start of the project;
  The project aims to reach 1,000 people within the GTI area, including residents involved in initiatives related to integrated territorial development strategies (output indicator: RCO74). This creates opportunities for individuals and companies to join the CGU value-chain collaboration;
• The growth potential for companies with circular business models and reuse processes is significant, as outlined in the Dutch national programme for the circular economy, which sets the target that the Netherlands must reduce the use of primary raw materials by 50% by 2030 and achieve a fully circular economy by 2050. Within this project, circular business models and reuse processes will be developed through at least 10 design sessions involving stakeholders from across the entire construction value chain.

• Learning from real-world practice regarding reuse in construction and demolition processes, involving multiple stakeholders from across the construction value chain;
• Developing and applying appropriate tools that:
  (a) enable and stimulate circular reuse;
  (b) facilitate intensive collaboration among partners within the construction value chain;
• Developing a structural value-chain collaboration based on reuse, including partner networks, processes, and business models.