Reuse in technical trades: a lever for decarbonizing the construction sector
Preamble:
Reuse refers to any operation by which substances, materials, or products that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were originally designed.
Repurposing (or re-utilization) refers to any operation by which substances, materials, or products that have become waste are used again. For this, these products may have undergone reconditioning, cleaning, or repair.
The term recycling is used for a material that is no longer usable in its original form and is transformed to create a new raw material. It often involves an industrial process and contrasts with the first two terms as it is generally more energy-intensive.
Complexity of Reuse and Specificities in Technical Trades
In a decarbonization and circular economy approach, reuse and repurposing are widely favored due to their low energy consumption and, consequently, lower CO₂ emissions.
Indeed, reuse in the construction sector, and more specifically in technical trades, is a major lever to reduce the carbon footprint of projects. For example, in new construction, technical trades represent nearly 45% of a building’s carbon impact. In renovation, this share can rise to 70%, making the reuse of equipment essential for a low-carbon approach. However, although this practice is growing, its implementation is still hindered by several challenges:
- Logistical and supply complexity: Selective deconstruction remains insufficiently widespread, and delivery times can be extended due to sometimes limited supply and demand.
- Performance guarantees of equipment: Reuse requires ensuring the reliability of equipment, which can be complex, especially for active equipment in technical trades. Since these require energy supply, their reuse implies verifying technical compatibility, proper functioning after disassembly and reassembly, as well as compliance with current safety standards. In this respect, insurance companies and control offices may require specific tests or certifications to validate the equipment’s recommissioning.
- Costs not always incentivizing: In some cases, the cost of reuse may remain close to that of new equipment, thus reducing the economic attractiveness of this approach.
To facilitate your transition to these practices, we recommend connecting with mature initiatives in the sector that offer concrete solutions tailored to the challenges of reuse. Organizations such as Circolab and the Booster du Réemploi support construction professionals by providing methodologies and specific resources for each phase of the project.
You will find all useful links at the end of the article.
A Lever for Decarbonization
Reuse offers a dual benefit in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions: it avoids the extraction of new resources and the manufacturing of materials, thus significantly reducing the carbon footprint of projects. According to certain accounting methodologies (such as those from the Booster du Réemploi), the carbon impact of reuse can be very low, or even zero in some regulated cases, such as the 2020 environmental regulation. This advantage can be precisely measured using Nooco, which allows integration of reuse into the life cycle analysis of equipment.
Environmental impact – 1 emergency lighting fixture (BAES) over 10 years
Excluding energy and water consumption (B6/B7 excluded)
BAES: Emergency Lighting Units
A carbon impact reduction of around 90% is observed between a standard market Emergency Lighting Unit (BAES: Bloc Autonome d’Éclairage de Sécurité) and a reused BAES, according to the methodology of the Booster du Réemploi.
With the reinforced carbon thresholds coming into effect in 2025 under RE2020, as well as the building sector’s general ambition to reduce its ecological footprint, reuse is becoming a key strategic lever (more information on RE2020 HERE).
Certain technical equipment are particularly suited for reuse, such as:
- Lighting fixtures
- Heating devices
- Electrical panels
- Ventilation ducts
- Sanitary equipment
These types of equipment can be integrated into a circular approach that is increasingly favored by professionals in the sector.
Concrete solutions: reuse platforms and logistical initiatives
The reuse of technical trades faces several obstacles, particularly in logistics and supply chain management. The removal, storage, and transportation of equipment must be perfectly optimized to make this solution viable on a large scale. Several companies in the sector have thus developed initiatives to overcome these challenges.
Below are some non-exhaustive examples of such initiatives.
The Re-Use Corner platform by Equans is one example; it facilitates the management and sale of reused equipment between construction sites by acting as a secondary market that enables the reuse of products from one project to another. This model also exists among other major players in the sector, such as Vinci, which is deploying internal platforms to optimize the circular management of technical equipment and encourage exchanges between buyers and suppliers.
Another example is the Réutil platform, created by GCC, which is open for use by other mid-sized companies such as Léon Grosse, as well as various reuse companies. Réutil allows the exchange of reused equipment and materials directly on construction sites, thus easing access to reuse for larger projects.
These initiatives simplify access to reuse, as illustrated by a project where Eiffage Énergie Systèmes was able to reuse 70 out of 112 Emergency Lighting Units (BAES) in partnership with Legrand. This project demonstrates that reuse is not only feasible but can also be smoothly integrated into complex projects.
Another example comes from Vinci Energies, which, through Cegelec Fluides, reused sanitary equipment, a smoke extraction fan, and ventilation ducts to enhance a project. This initiative reduced the project’s carbon footprint by 20 tons of CO2, representing 17% of the overall project impact, and earned a Circolab level 3 certification on one of their projects.
Solutions for large-scale adoption
- Methodological framework: ADEME has developed the SPIROU note, which provides recommendations on guaranteeing the performance of reused equipment. Cycle-Up also offers a reference framework for the carbon calculation of reconditioned equipment
- Financial support: The Anti-Waste Law encourages the establishment of dedicated funds for reuse and supports optimized waste management.
- Matching platforms: Platforms like Cyneo facilitate connections between companies, buyers, and suppliers of reused products.
These accelerators, combined with logistical, regulatory, and methodological efforts, help overcome obstacles and make the reuse of technical trades increasingly viable.
Towards the widespread adoption of reuse?
Much has already been written on the topic of reuse in technical trades, and it is now clear that the main challenges are being addressed. Regulations are being refined, methodological tools are in place, and several major companies have already led the way with concrete initiatives. The next step is to scale up these efforts and encourage widespread adoption. Reuse is no longer an option but a crucial lever to meet the environmental and regulatory requirements of the sector.
Here under are several resources to help you further implement reuse in your construction and renovation projects.