Urban mining and material flow management

For EPEA, urban mining means “systematic management of inventory” by recovering resources and integrating them into the production cycle to promote a scalable and resource efficient economy. Through seeing existing buildings as material banks our experts reduce primary material use, increase reuse and industrial recovery and minimise the embodied impacts of material extraction from carbon to biodiversity.
Projekt Münchner Wohnen Haldenseestrasse
For buildings & districts

Our services for circular dismantling

With strategic material flow management, we selectively return dismantling materials to the cycle.
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Pre-Demolition Audit

Resource-saving dismantling thorugh urban mining begins before the actual demolition.

DGNB Rückbauzertifikat

For better marketing, ESG or funding, we support the certification of your dismantling with a dismantling certificate from the German Sustainable Building Council.

Management

Through targeted material flow management, we strategically control the use and return flow of building materials from your construction project.

Consulting

We offer strategic advice and goal setting as well as knowledge transfer for portfolios, municipalities, districts and other stakeholders, with a focus on establishing circular material cycles.
Efficient material flow management in your construction project

How can urban mining be integrated into a construction project?

Resource-saving dismantling starts early: We identify recyclable materials long before demolition and ensure their reuse or recycling as secondary raw materials or for direct reuse. Through recovering existing materials we significantly reduce primary raw material use whilst meeting the demands of the sector and minimizing environmental footprint.
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We close gaps in the conventional planning process and make urban mining feasible in your project.
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Our approach

Dismantling and material flow management

We strategically manage the use and return flow of building materials in order to create new added value from existing resources. Responsible dismantling enables the maximum recovery of valuable raw materials, which reduces disposal costs and reduces environmental impact.
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With innovative solutions, such as the economical on-site processing of mass construction materials, we transform old materials into new resources. Instead of disposing of building materials, you become a producer of recyclable materials.
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From idea to implementation

Urban mining screener and initial assessment
inventorying
Potential analysis
conceptual design
Ecological & economic assessment
Material transfer
Support, tendering & awarding

Dismantling

Logistical support & material flow management
Material flow analysis & sustainability assessment

New construction/renovation

Circular Engineering
Our approach

Dismantling and material flow management

We manage the use and return flow of building materials in 3 steps to create new added value from existing resources.
Dashboard mockup
Dashboard mockup
Dashboard mockup
Targeted control of material flows

Your benefits with urban mining in a construction project

Saving resources through reprocessing of secondary raw materials
Minimizing risks through reduced dependencies in the supply of raw materials
Positive weighting at DGNB, EU taxonomy and ESG reports
Reducing disposal costs, construction waste, transportation costs, etc.
Reusing building materials in new construction projects
Raw material reserves (buildings as material banks)
Positive image through reporting
Testimonial logo

Urban mining gives materials an identity, reduces CO2-Output and increases the availability of building materials.

Matthias Heinrich
Matthias Heinrich
Leading Consultant, EPEA
Our references

Success stories

Success stories for a circular future! From buildings to products: Here we show how companies from a wide range of industries are using EPEA to implement circular strategies and thus actively shape change.
Buildings

ZIN Brüssel

ZIN Brussels, the world's largest Cradle to Cradle inspired building.
Buildings

Venlo City Hall

A masterpiece of sustainable architecture that generates more energy than it consumes!
Buildings

The Cradle

Sustainable architecture in Düsseldorf: “The Cradle” - hybrid timber buildings with C2C aspects and a positive indoor climate.
All references

Do you have any questions?

Let us make your projects sustainable and circular together!
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