Reuse of building elements in the architectural practice and the European regulatory context: Inconsistencies and possible improvements

Current European policies identify the efficient management of Construction and Demolition Waste as a priority area. With regard to this, circular economy principles and present research trajectories encourage the less demanding manufacturing patterns as the ones enhancing resource efficiency, recognising the advantages of reusing as compared to recycling. However, the heterogeneous nature of EU norms concerning reclaimed building elements generates multiple inconsistencies. Uncertainties related to the waste management process, together with a legal vacuum, prevent reuse strategies from spreading, affecting both market competitiveness and its shift towards the sustainable resource management. Starting from the European regulatory framework for reclaimed products and components in the architectural perspective, the paper discusses possible improvements towards a more circular built environment. It analyses how existing legal vacuums and inconsistencies prevent the implementation of reuse processes in the architectural field, adding barriers to a value chain already lacking driving forces. The examined regulatory context highlights how the reuse of building elements is subordinate not only to proper deconstruction activities, but also to the uncertain application of the CE marking and the unclear requirements for the element specific use. As a consequence, the legal framework worsen the existing obstacles to the use of reclaimed elements: the results show how time frames, costs, performance assessment, and end users perception are the more involved criticalities in the conflict between the enactment of reuse processes in architecture and the related regulatory context. The discussion reports possible actions and improvements on the regulatory and policy levels to simplify the procedures for architectural reuse practices. It also highlights how academic and professional research could represent a lever in promoting innovative and site-specific strategies fostering the reuse of building elements as a sustainable process.