Sustainable materials: issues in implementing resource efficiency – A UK policy & planning perspective

Increasing the recovery of construction and demolition wastes, and the use of sustainable materials in construction is dependent on a range of drivers that influence design and project planning decisions, as well as mainstream practice on construction sites. In the absence of sustainable materials standards in UK Building Regulations, behaviour is influenced by a combination of sustainability assessment ratings (e.g. BREEAM and the Code for Sutainable Homes), waste regulations, landfill taxes and planning guidance. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve consistent and widespread improved waste recovery performance and procurement of sustainable materials. This paper presents the authors' views on the efficacy of current drivers, supported by a case study analysis and pilot survey of industry views. Indicating gaps between rhetoric, aspiration and delivery, it compares UK policy, regulatory and voluntary drivers with approaches in the Netherlands and Germany.