The construction sector is a major consumer of natural resources worldwide. Construction activities for buildings, streets and other public infrastructure have been steadily increasing in the last 30 years and now contribute significantly to global impacts:
- Resource extraction for the construction and industrial sector has nearly tripled worldwide since 1980
- 10-15% of building materials are wasted during the construction process
- The use of our buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emission and 73% of electricity consumption
- 530 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris were generated in the United States in 2013—more than twice the amount of generated municipal solid waste
- Demolition represents more than 90 percent of total C&D debris generation, while construction represents less than 10 percent
Despite the challenges, many solutions exist to cut emissions and better cycle our materials throughout our communities, economies, and industry sectors. This toolkit is dedicated to sharing advancements in materials management strategies for construction activities that conserve resources, cut emissions, and lead to long-term change for the built environment.
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