Buildings are responsible for about 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions1. Construction and demolition waste account for 25-30% of all waste generated in the EU2. The construction industry accounts for up to 60% of all raw materials used globally, including minerals, metals, and wood3. Overall, the data and research suggest that the building industry has a significant impact on global resource use, but also offers significant opportunities for improving sustainability through design, construction, and operation practices. 

In this scenario, there is an urgent need to evolve the circular economy beyond recycling into Design for Re-assembly. Demountable structural systems that allow the reuse of structural elements. The composite action of steel and concrete optimises the structural properties of the two materials. However, by using connectors embedded in the in-situ concrete. This makes deconstruction time-consuming and energy-intensive.

With NPS FLEX®, we have developed a composite steel-concrete solution designed to be disassembled, making the construction elements reusable.