National funds and EU programs supporting circular construction

🇪🇺 EU Programs Supporting Circular Construction

The EU has identified construction as one of the eight priority sectors for circularity under the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). Key funding mechanisms include:

🔹 Horizon Europe

• €95.5 billion budget

• Supports R&D in circular building materials, digital tools, and modular construction

• Relevant missions: Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, Adaptation to Climate Change

🔹 LIFE Programme

• Focuses on environmental and climate action

• Funds pilot projects in circular demolition, reuse hubs, and material tracking

🔹 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

• Supports regional innovation and infrastructure

• Can fund circular building retrofits and material reuse networks

🔹 Cohesion Fund

• Targets less-developed EU regions

• Supports sustainable construction and circular economy integration

🔹 Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)

• €2 billion partnership for bio-based materials and circular construction solutions

🇪🇺 Strategic Initiatives & Action Plans

🧭 Joint Action Plan for Circular Economy in Construction

• Developed under the 3R-Connect project

• Priority actions:

  • Digital inventory tools for materials

  • Local reuse networks

  • Circular public procurement strategies

🏛️ Interreg Europe Projects

• Examples: KARMA, CONDEREFF, REPLACE

• Promote regional collaboration, pilot reuse centers, and green procurement

🇮🇹 National & Regional Funds (Example: Italy)

Italy leads in:

• Mandatory Green Public Procurement (GPP) for all building interventions

• Reuse centers for salvaged construction materials

• Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) for public works

Other countries like Austria, France, and Belgium also have national ordinances or reuse networks for circular construction.

🧰 Tools & Support Platforms

• National Circularity Assessment Framework for Buildings – helps governments assess and improve circularity in the built environment

• Circular Cities and Regions Initiative – offers tailored funding advice for circular systemic solutions