Embracing Sustainable Futures: CERES aims to build a bridge between education...

Circular Economy Alliance 2 years ago

Embracing Sustainable Futures: CERES aims to build a bridge between education and competences needed for the transition towards Circular Economy (CE). As sustainable development requires more systematic approaches, the dialogue between CE and Industry 4.0 aims to build a new set of knowledge and best cases, to be provided through both higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET). The fusion of these paradigms goes beyond manufacturing, and touches entrepreneurship, innovation management, and societal development, fostering an approach mindful of the limits of our planet. The focus of CERES is on creating a new educational framework adaptable to the changing demands of CE. How? ✅Through an accurate Market Analysis: research starts from the needs of our societies; this means mapping the kind of skills and competences needed by circular businesses and those businesses transitioning to a circular economy model. This will allow us to figure out the kind of professionals we have to prepare for Today's and Tomorrow's challenges. ✅Through rethinking Education for Circular Economy: Higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) must adapt, equipping learners with the skills needed for a sustainable tomorrow. CERES will contribute to the essential process of curriculum update for CE and its delivery. ✅Through building a community and encouraging networking among CE stakeholders: excitingly, we envision the Circular Economy Digital Innovation Hub (CE-DIH) as a cornerstone, a digital space to connect stakeholders, nurture skills, provide knowledge, and opportunities. At the Circular Economy Alliance, we are proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the CERES consortium REPIC Ltd, Erion, Aalborg University, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Bari, Cyprus Certification Company / Κυπριακή Εταιρεία Πιστοποιήσης, CERC - Circular Economy Research Center, Cleantech Bulgaria, Centro di Documentazione sui Conflitti Ambientali Associazione (CDCA) for their exceptional efforts and commitment to this important mission. To know more- Sign up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQL

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 1 hour ago



Sustainable construction is accelerating across global markets as governments, developers and manufacturers align on reducing the carbon footprint of construction through measurable frameworks such as whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment. Milan’s new Olympic Village exemplifies this shift, combining low carbon design principles with renewable building materials and a circular economy strategy for post-Games adaptation. The project demonstrates how sustainable building design can deliver substantial embodied carbon savings—studies estimate a 40% reduction compared with conventional developments—while creating flexible spaces that extend asset lifespan and improve building lifecycle performance.

Efforts to achieve net zero whole life carbon are influencing every phase of project delivery, encouraging the adoption of sustainable building practices that balance cost, performance and resilience. The UK construction sector is prioritising environmental sustainability in construction by investing in digital technologies that enhance resource efficiency in construction and optimise sustainable material specification. Manufacturers are adapting product processes to embed low embodied carbon materials and provide transparent environmental product declarations (EPDs). This upstream innovation supports a more accountable supply chain that accelerates carbon footprint reduction and nurtures a culture of eco-friendly construction.

In North America, corporate commitments to decarbonising the built environment remain resilient, with many major firms maintaining or strengthening net zero carbon targets despite market instability. Their strategies increasingly draw upon lifecycle assessment to examine both embodied carbon in materials and operational impacts, signalling a deeper understanding of whole life carbon across portfolios. As BREEAM and the forthcoming BREEAM v7 standard gain further traction, these certification frameworks offer consistent guidance on achieving energy-efficient buildings and low-impact construction outcomes aligned with global climate objectives.

On the logistics front, incremental shifts are already changing how projects manage transport-based emissions. The recent decision by AkzoNobel to fuel its logistics fleet with hydrotreated vegetable oil highlights a practical move towards carbon neutral construction and the wider adoption of circular construction strategies. By reducing embedded emissions and supporting renewable supply chains, such initiatives support life cycle thinking in construction, crucial for achieving low carbon building outcomes and strengthening environmental sustainability credentials.

Economic challenges persist, with the Building Cost Information Service projecting significant increases in construction and tender prices. These pressures reinforce the importance of life cycle cost analysis to ensure that initial expenditure on green building materials or eco-design for buildings delivers measurable long-term value. Policymakers and developers face an urgent choice between short-term savings and long-term resilience. The pathway to net zero carbon buildings depends on embedding sustainable design at every decision point, fostering a genuinely circular economy in construction that rewards innovation and safeguards environmental sustainability in the built environment.

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Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.