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Glossary of Terms for Circular Economy
& Waste Management in Construction
As the construction industry embraces sustainability and the circular economy, a myriad of new terms and concepts are emerging. This rapid evolution can create confusion, especially when different stakeholders interpret terminology differently.
To address this challenge, the RECONMATIC project has developed a comprehensive glossary of key terms related to construction, demolition waste, and circular economy practices. By providing clear definitions and linking related concepts, this glossary aims to foster a common understanding among all stakeholders, from contractors to policymakers.
Join our upcoming webinar!
The Role of a Shared Glossary
in Advancing Circular Construction
Join the Circular Construction Cluster for a webinar on how a shared glossary can remove friction and speed up circular construction in real projects.
Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Time: 11:00–11:45 CET
Format: short talks, reflections, mini panel, Q&A
Accessibility
ISO 19650-1:2018
Easy of reaching and using a service or facility.
Actor
ISO 11620:2023
Person, organization or organizational unit involved in a construction process.
Adaptability
ISO 6707-3:2022
Ability to changes or modifications suitable for a particular use.
Adaptability of a building
European Economic and Social Committee. Let's speak…
Building that is designed in such a way that, over time, it can be readily transformed to accommodate uses for which it was not originally conceived.
Add value
ISO/DIS 59004
Process of increasing the value of the object of consideration (i.e., a resource, a product etc.).
Alternative material
European Economic and Social Committee. Let's speak…
Material which substitutes a primary material (see secondary material).
Ancillary material
ISO 14040:2006
Input material or product that is used by the unit process producing the product, but which does not constitute part of the product.
As-built drawing
An as-built drawing is a drawing that the designer, engineer or contractor of a construction project creates after successfully completing a project.
Audit
ISO 14050:2020
Systematic and independent process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled.
Audit team
ISO 14050:2020
One or more persons conducting an audit supported if needed by technical experts.
Auditor
ISO 14050:2020
Person who conduct an audit.
Avoidable waste
Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction (Construction Leadership Council, 2020)
Materials, products or components that can be prevented from becoming waste, and it can either be prevented, reused or recycled.
Backfilling
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC + DIRECTIVE (EU) 2018/851
Any recovery operation where suitable non-hazardous waste is used for purposes of reclamation in excavated areas or for engineering purposes in landscaping. Waste used for backfilling must substitute non-waste materials, be suitable for the aforementioned purposes, and be limited to the amount strictly necessary to achieve those purposes.
Bio-based
ISO/DIS 59004
Derived from biomass.
Bio-based products
European Commission (https://single-
market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/biotechnology/bio-based-products_en)
They are wholly or partly derived from materials of biological origin (such as plants, animals, enzymes, and microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and yeast). They do not include materials that are embedded in geological formations and/or fossilised. From products we use every day to cutting-edge innovations, bio-based products are revolutionising industries and paving the way for a more sustainable economy.
Biomass
ISO 14050:2020; ISO/DIS 59004
Material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations and material transformed to fossilized material and excluding peat.
Broker
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Any undertaking arranging the recovery or disposal of waste on behalf of others, including such brokers who do not take physical possession of the waste.
Building
ISO 6707-1:2020
Construction work, that has the provision of shelter for its occupants or contents as one of its main purposes, usually partially or totally enclosed and designed to stand permanently in one place.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
EN ISO 19650-1:2018
Use of a shared digital representation of a built asset to facilitate design, construction and operation processes to form a reliable basis for decisions.
Built environment
EN ISO 12006-2:2020
Physical construction result intended to serve a function or user activity.
By-product
Article 5, By-products, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC & ISO 21930:2017
A substance or object is considered not to be waste, but to be a by product if the following conditions are met: (I) further use of the substance or object is certain; (II) the substance or object can be used directly without any further processing other than normal industrial practice; (III) the substance or object is produced as an integral part of a production process; and (IV) further use is lawful. Co-product from a process that is incidental or not intentionally produced and which cannot be avoided.
Certification
ISO 17000:2020
Third-party attestation related to an object of conformity assessment, with the exception of accreditation.
Circular building
Transition Agenda for Circular Construction Economy of the Netherlands
Development, use and reuse of buildings, areas and infrastructure without unnecessarily exhausting natural resources, polluting the living environment, and affecting ecosystems. Construction in a way that is economically sound and contributes to the well being of humans and animals. Here and there, now and later.
Circular economy
Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0852&from=EN%20&%20ISO/DIS%2059004)
An economic system whereby the value of products, materials and other resources in the economy is maintained for as long as possible, enhancing their efficient use in production and consumption, thereby reducing the environmental impact of their use, minimising waste and the release of hazardous substances at all stages of their life cycle, including through the application of the waste hierarchy. Economic system that uses a systemic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources, by recovering, retaining or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development.
Circularity
Ellen McArthur Foundation & ISO/DIS 59004
Activities which are defined on the right side of the Ellen McArthur Foundation butterfly diagram. Primary focus of these activities is on the technosphere. Circularity demands advances in technology and scientific research to discover new ways of reusing resources. Recyclable raw materials should be designed into a product right at the manufacturing stage so that they can be utilised after their use (see also sustainability definition) Degree of alignment with the principles for a circular economy.
Client
ISO 19650-1:2018
Actor responsible for initiating a construction project and approving the brief.
Closed loop system
ISO 59004
System by which products or resources are used and then recovered and turned into new products or recovered resources, without losing their inherent properties.
Co-processing
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
The term is used when introducing alternative fuels and raw materials into a standard production process, rather than using conventional fuels and raw materials.
Co-product
ISO 14050:2020
Product coming from the same unit process or product system as one or more other products.
Collection
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC + DIRECTIVE (EU) 2018/851
The gathering of waste, including the preliminary sorting and preliminary storage of waste for the purposes of transport to a waste treatment facility.
Collection of waste
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Gathering of waste, including the preliminary sorting and preliminary storage of waste for the purposes of transport to a waste treatment facility.
Common data environment (CDE)
EN ISO 19650-1:2018
Agreed source of information for any given project or asset, for collecting, managing and disseminating each information container through a managed process.
Completed phase
ISO 6707-2:2017
Phase that the parties agree has been completed.
Compliance obligation
ISO 14050:2020
Legal requirement that an organization has to comply with or other requirement that an organization has to or chooses to comply with.
Component
Design Buildings Wiki
Constituent part of a building (or other built asset) which is manufactured as an independent unit, subsystem or subassembly, that can be joined or blended with other elements to form a more complex item.
Construction activity
EN ISO 12006-2:2020
Component process of construction process.
Construction and demolition waste (CDW)
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Any waste generated in the activities of companies belonging to the construction sector and included 63 in category 17 of the European List of Wastes.
Construction and demolition waste (CDW)
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Waste that results from construction and demolition, renovation or reconstruction activities in a general way. It also includes waste arising from minor do-it-yourself construction and demolition activities within private households.
Construction material
European Economic and Social Committee. Let's speak…
Material used in the construction industry to create buildings and structures, e.g. steel, timber, aggregates, plaster, concrete, plastic products etc. as well as manufactured products.
Construction process
EN ISO 12006-2:2020
Process which uses construction resources to achieve construction results.
Construction product
ISO 6707-1:2020
Item manufactured or processed for incorporation in construction work.
Construction service
EN15804:2012+A2:2019/AC:2021
Activity that supports the construction works or subsequent maintenance.
Construction works
ISO 6707-1:2020
Everything that is constructed or results from construction operations.
Contract
ISO 6707-2:2017
Legally enforceable agreement to supply goods, carry out construction work and/or provide services.
Contract
FIDIC
Means the Contract Agreement, the Letter of Acceptance, the Letter of Tender, these Conditions, the Specification, the Drawings, the Schedules, and the further documents (if any) which are listed in the Contract Agreement or in the Letter of Acceptance.
Contractor
FIDIC & Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) (UK)
Means the person(s) named as contractor in the Letter of Tender accepted by the Employer and the legal successors in title to this person(s). Anyone who directly employs or engages construction workers or manages construction work. Contractors include sub-contractors, any individual self-employed worker or business that carries out, manages or controls construction work. They must have the skills, knowledge, experience and, where relevant, the organisational capability to carry out the work safely and without risk to health.
Cost
ISO 14050:2020
Monetary value of resources consumed to perform activities.
Database
ISO 11620:2023
Collection of electronically stored descriptive records or content units (including facts, texts, pictures, and sound) with a common user interface and software for the retrieval and manipulation of the data.
Dealer
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Means any undertaking which acts in the role of principal to purchase and subsequently sell waste, including such dealers who do not take physical possession of the waste.
Decommissioning
Design Buildings Wiki, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) & EN 15643:2021
Process of shutting down a building and/or removing it from operation or use. Decommissioning may be followed by re-commissioning, repurposing or demolition. Common types of buildings that may be decommissioned include; power stations, oil rigs, factories, warehouses, public buildings and so on. Activities that change a building or an assembled system (part of works) from an operational status to a non-operational status.
Deconstruction
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Means removal of building elements from a demolition site in order to maximize their recovery and reuse.
Decontamination
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Reduction or removal of chemical agents
Dematerialization
Architect Design (https://www.architectureanddesign.co
m.au/getmedia/9391de5b-1aad-408b-
994a-9e6e421f7cce/Holcim-Designing-
for-Dematerialisation.aspx?ext=.pdf)
Design strategy that prioritises lower material and resource inputs across all life cycle stages of a building, without adversely affecting the operational performance or intended function of the building.
Demolition
What is building demolition? (https://safetyculture.com/topics/build
ing-demolition/ & https://www.collinsdictionary.com/)
Process of dismantling, destroying, or knocking down building structures along with the materials used in the construction of the property. The demolition of a building is the act of deliberately destroying it, often in order to build something else in its place.
Demolition waste
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Waste debris from deconstruction of a building or structure.
Demountability
ISO 6707-3:2022
Ability to be removed from its mounting or setting.
Design criteria
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Set of conditions and requirements which must be met by architects when designing any building or urban space.
Design life
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak… & EN 15643:2021
Period of time that a building or structure must be able to function as envisaged without a need for a major renovation. Service life intended by the designer,
Design process
EN ISO 12006-2:2020
Construction process determining construction properties for the built environment before it is made physical.
Design quality assessment
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Process which monitors all stages in the design of a building/structure and seeks to assist the client in determining whether or not the final building will be of a high quality.
Design science research
Hevner, A.R., Samir Chatterjee (2010) Service Design Research in Information Systems: Theory and Practice. Springer. New York & London. ISBN 9781441956538
Research paradigm focused on developing and evaluating innovative IT artefacts designed to address practical, real world issues. The foundational principle is that knowledge and comprehension of a problem domain and its solution are acquired through the construction and application of the designed artifact.
Designer
Construction (Design and Management) & Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) (UK)
An organisation or individual whose work involves preparing or modifying designs for construction projects, or arranging for, or instructing, others to do this. Designers can be architects, consulting engineers and quantity surveyors, or anyone who specifies and alters designs as part of their work.
Digital Material (Product) Passport
Digital document listing all the materials that are included in a product or construction during its life cycle in order to facilitate strategizing circularity decisions in supply chain management. Digital Product Passports (DPP) are a tool for collecting and sharing product data throughout its entire lifecycle used to illustrate a product’s sustainability, environmental and recyclability attributes.
Digital Twin
Service Design Research in Information Systems : Theory and Practice
A digital twin is a virtual representation of an object or system designed to reflect a physical object accurately. It spans the object's lifecycle, is updated from real-time data and uses simulation, machine learning and reasoning to help make decisions. A digital twin is “a virtual representation of an object, a service process, a product, or anything else that can be digitized.”
Disassembly
Springer: New York ; London, 2010; ISBN 9781441956538
Ability to be taken apart at the end of its useful life in such a way that components and parts can be reused, recycled, recovered for energy.
Dismantling
Design Buildings Wiki
Careful deconstruction of building components for repair, re-use, re-purposing or recycling. Dismantling differs from deconstruction in that it can be undertaken as a means of conservation, maintenance and repair works, whereas deconstruction involves taking a building down, albeit in a careful way that aims to minimise waste and maximise re-use. Dismantling also differs from demolition in that it does not generally involve the clearance of an entire structure.
Disposal
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Any operation which is not recovery even where the operation has as a secondary consequence the reclamation of substances or energy.
Disposal cost
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Cost of removing or getting rid of refuse or unwanted materials left over from a manufacturing process.
Downcycling/downgrading
Helbig, C., Huether, J., Joachimsthaler, C., Lehmann, C., Raatz, S., Thorenz, A., Faulstich, M., Tuma, A. (2022) 'A terminology for downcycling'. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 26, pp. 1164-1174
Phenomenon of quality reduction of materials reprocessed from waste relative to their original quality, where waste means any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard. Downcycled materials count as recycled materials. One can distinguish between thermodynamic, functional, and economic downcycling.
Drawings
FIDIC & www.dictionary.com
Drawings of the designed works, as included in the Contract, and any additional and modified drawings issued by (or on behalf of) the Employer in accordance with the Contract. The act of a person or thing that draws. a graphic representation by lines of an object or idea, as with a pencil; a delineation of form without reference to colour.
Durability
EN 15643:2021 & European Economic and Social
Committee. Lets speak…
Ability to maintain required technical performance throughout the service life, subject to specified maintenance under the influence of the foreseeable actions. Power of resisting agents or influences which tend to cause changes, decay, or dissolution; lastingness.
Eco-efficiency
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Practice which involves increasing the productivity of natural resources. Measure relating environmental performance of a product system to its product system value.
Ecodesign
ISO 14006:2020 & ISO/DIS 59004
Systematic approach that considers environmental aspects in design and development with the aim to reduce adverse environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of a product Design and development based on life cycle thinking aimed at supporting sustainable development.
Ecosystem
ISO/DIS 59004
Dynamic complex of communities of plants, animals and microorganisms and their non-living environment, interacting as a functional entity.
Element
Uniclass 2015 & Design Buildings Wiki
The main components of a structure like a bridge (foundations, piers, deck) or a building (floors, walls and roofs).
Elementary flow
ISO 14050:2020
Material or energy entering the system being studied that has been drawn from the environment without previous human transformation, or material or energy leaving the system being studied that is released into the environment without subsequent human transformation.
End of life
TechTarget (https://www.techtarget.com/)
End of life (EOL), in the context of manufacturing and product lifecycles, is the final stages of a product's existence.
End of use
ISO/DIS 59004
Point in time during the life cycle at which a product or resource is transferred by the holder to some other holder.
End-of-life cost
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Cost associated with the disposal, termination or replacement of an asset or service.
Energy recovery
ISO 6707-3:2022; ISO 21930:2017 & ISO/DIS 59004
Recovery of energy from a process, including waste treatment process. Generation of useful energy through direct and controlled transformation of recovered resources.
Environment
ISO/DIS 59004
Surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their relationships.
Environmental aspect
ISO 14050:2020
Element of an organisation's activities or products that interacts or can interact with the environment.
Environmental burden
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Total impact on the environment of a construction product or project.
Environmental declaration
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
One of three types of declarations: type I, based on third-party certification for specific goods and services; type II, based on self-declarations; and type III, based on life-cycle impacts and their assessment.
Environmental impact
ISO 14050:2020
Change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, including possible consequences, wholly or partially resulting from an organisation's environmental aspects.
Environmental indicator
ISO 21929-1:2011
Sustainability indicator related to an environmental impact.
Environmental product declaration (EPD)
ISO 21930:2017
Standardized document informing about a product’s environmental and human health impact. It’s based on the ISO 14025 standard and the scientific footprinting method Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The goal of an EPD is to inform and communicate with stakeholders about a product’s environmental impact. Therefore, companies often use EPDs for commercial purposes.
Environmental profiling
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Method used to capture in quantifiable terms the impact of a good or service on the environment.
Estimated (predicted) service life
ISO 15686-1:2011
Service life that a building or parts of a building would be expected to have in a set of specific in use conditions, determined from reference service life data after taking into account any differences from the reference in-use conditions.
Excavation waste
Excavation waste definition (https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary)
Means natural soil, earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, concrete and stone or any parts or mixtures thereof. Means naturally occurring soil, stone, rock and similar materials (whether clean or contaminated) which have been excavated as a result of site preparation activities.
Feasibility study
ISO 6707-2:2017
A feasibility study is a detailed analysis that considers all of the critical aspects of a proposed project in order to determine the likelihood of t succeeding.
Functional unit
ISO 14050:2020
Quantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit.
Good
ISO 14050:2020
Something that satisfies human wants or needs.
Handover
EN 15643:2021 & European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Step at which possession of the construction works is surrendered to the client upon completion with or without reservation.
Hazardous construction and demolition waste
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Debris that has hazardous properties and that may prove to be harmful to human health or the environment. This comprises contaminated soil and dredging spoil, materials and substances that may include adhesives, sealants and mastic (flammable, toxic or irritant), tar (toxic, carcinogenic), asbestos based materials in the form of respirable fibre (toxic, carcinogenic), wood treated with fungicides, pesticides, etc. (toxic, ecotoxic, flammable), coatings of halogenated flame retardants (ecotoxic, toxic, carcinogenic), equipment with PCBs (ecotoxic, carcinogenic), mercury lighting (toxic, ecotoxic), systems with CFCs, insulation containing CFCs65 , containers for hazardous substances (solvents, paints, adhesives, etc.) and the packaging of likely contaminated waste.
Hazardous waste
Article 3, Definitions, Directive 2008/98/EC & Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Waste which displays one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Annex III. Waste that due to its (intrinsic) chemical - or other - properties poses a risk to the environment and/or human health. Wastes listed as hazardous in the European List of Waste are marked with and asterisk in the List of Waste.
Indicator
ISO 14050 & ISO 6707 3:2022
Quantitative, qualitative or binary variable that can be measured, calculated or described, representing the status of operations, management, conditions or impacts.
Industry 4.0
IBM (2022). What is industry 4.0? Ibm; IBM
Realization of the digital transformation of the field, delivering real-time decision making, enhanced productivity, flexibility and agility to revolutionize the way companies manufacture, improve and distribute their products.
Inert waste
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Waste that does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological transformations (for ex. concrete, bricks, masonry, tiles). Inert waste will not dissolve, burn or otherwise react physically or chemically, biodegrade or adversely affect other matter with which it comes into contact in a way likely to give rise to environmental pollution or harm human health.
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
Computer Security Resource Centre. Glossary
Encompasses all technologies for the capture, storage, retrieval, processing, display, representation, organization, management, security, transfer, and interchange of data and information.
Information management (IM)
ISO 19650-1:2018
Business processes across the built environment sector in support of the management and production of information during the life cycle of built assets.
Information unit
ISO 6707-2:2017
Single piece of information.
Intermediate product
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Product that has undergone a partial processing and is used as raw material in a successive productive step.
Key performance indicator (KPI)
ISO 14050:2020
Indicator of performance deemed by an organization to be significant and giving prominence and attention to certain aspects of operations, management, conditions or impacts.
Landfill
ISO 472:2013 & EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Waste disposal site for the deposit of waste onto or into land under controlled or regulated conditions. Waste disposal site for the deposit of the waste onto or into land (for instance underground), including (1) internal waste disposal sites (for instance own waste disposal carried out by the producer of waste at the place of production), and (2) a permanent site (older than one year) which is used for temporary storage of waste, But excluding: (1) facilities where waste is unloaded in order to permit its preparation for further transport for recovery, treatment or disposal elsewhere, and (2) storage of waste prior to recovery or treatment for a period less than 3 years as a general rule, (3) storage of waste prior to disposal for a period less than 1 year.
Lean construction
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Way to design production systems to minimise waste of materials, time, and effort in order to generate the maximum possible amount of value.
Life cycle
ISO 14050:2020 & ISO 15643:2021
Consecutive and interlinked stages from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal. Consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal.
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
ISO 14050:2020; EN 15643-1:2018 & ISO 14040:2006
Compilation and assessment of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system through its life cycle. Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.
Life cycle cost
ISO 15686-5:2017 & EN 15643-1:2018
Cost of an asset or its parts throughout its life cycle, while fulfilling the performance requirements (compare to whole-life cost).
Life cycle impact category indicator
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Quantifiable representation of an environmental issue of concern (impact category) to which life cycle inventory results may be assigned.
Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI)
ISO 14040:2006 / ISO 14050:2020
Phase of a life cycle assessment involving the compilation and quantification of inputs and outputs for a product throughout its life cycle.
Life-span
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Actual period of time that a building continues to fulfill its original functions.
Linear economy
ISO/DIS 59004
Economic system where resources typically follow the pattern of extraction, production, use and disposal.
Local authority
ISO 14050:2020
Public body given the authority by legislation or directives of a higher level of government to set general policies, plans or requirements.
Longevity
See 'Durability'.
Main contractor
See 'Principal contractor'.
Maintenance
EN 15643:2021 / European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Combination of all technical and associated administrative actions during an item’s service life to retain a building / structure or an assembled system (part of works) in a state in which it can perform its required function.
Maintenance process
EN ISO 12006-2:2020
Construction process preserving the function of, or operating, the built environment.
Manufacturing
Any industry that makes products from raw materials by the use of manual labour or machinery and that is usually carried out systematically with a division of labour (See industry). In a more limited sense, manufacturing denotes the fabrication or assembly of components into finished products on a fairly large scale.
Material (or product) databank
A computer application that enables materials experts and product development teams to find, explore, and apply materials property data.
Material flow
ISO 14050:2020
Input or output of a material or group of materials.
Material recovery
Article 3, Definitions, European directive 2008/98/EC / ISO 6707-3:2022
Any recovery operation, other than energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or other means to generate energy. It includes, inter alia, preparing for re-use, recycling and backfilling (same concept as waste recovery except it excludes energy recovery operations). Recovery from previous use or from waste derived from one product system and used as input to another product system.
Mixed construction and demolition waste
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Mixture of different fractions of C&D waste
Natural resource
ISO 14050:2020 / ISO/DIS 59004
Part of nature that provides benefits to humans or underpins human well-being. Raw material occurring in nature.
Non-hazardous waste
Article 3, Definitions, Directive 2008/98/EC / https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary
Means waste which is not covered by point 2 of Article 3. Non-hazardous waste means waste which is not classified as hazardous waste.
Non-renewable resource
ISO 21930:2017 / ISO/DIS 59004
Resource that exists in a fixed amount that cannot be naturally replenished or cleansed on a human time scale. Resource that exists in a finite or limited amount that cannot be naturally regenerated within a foreseeable time frame.
Obsolescence
ISO 6707-3:2022
Loss of ability of a product to perform satisfactorily due to the end of life cycle of the product or service.
Organisation
ISO 55000:2014
Person or group of people that has its own function with responsibilities, authorities and relationships to achieve its objectives.
Packaging
ISO 14050:2020
Product that is used to protect or contain another product during transportation, storage, marketing or use.
Performance
ISO 6707-1:2020
Ability to fulfill required functions under intended use conditions or behaviour when in use.
Permanent works
FIDIC
Means the permanent works to be executed by the contractor under the contract.
Plan of work
ISO 19650-2:2018
Document that details principal stages in the design, construction work and maintenance of a project and identifies the main tasks and people.
Post consumer recycled content
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Any material that was used by a consumer and then recycled for use in a new product.
Pre-demolition audit
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016) / Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
A preparatory activity with the purpose of: (1) collecting information about the qualities and quantities of the construction and demolition waste materials that will be released during the demolition, deconstruction or renovation works and (2) giving general and site specific recommendations regarding the demolition process. The demolition contractor carries out an advanced inspection of the demolition project and an inventory of the materials (hazardous and non-hazardous) to get insight into the nature, quantity and any contamination of the extracted demolition materials. An inventory is made of the risks to occupational safety and safety risks to the surroundings.
Pre-design process
ISO 6707-2:2017
A process determining properties for the design process.
Prepare for reuse
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Checking, cleaning or repairing recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing (repair or cleaning of items which never became waste are not captured under this treatment category).
Prevention
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Measures taken before a substance, material or product has become waste, that reduce: (a) the quantity of waste, including through the re use of products or the extension of the life span of products; (b) the adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health; or (c) the content of harmful substances in materials and products.
Primary data
ISO 14050:2020
Quantified value of a unit process or an activity obtained from a direct measurement or a calculation based on direct measurements at the original source.
Primary raw material
Study on the EU's list of Critical Raw Materials / European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Virgin materials, natural inorganic or organic substance, such as metallic ores, industrial minerals, construction materials (aggregates, sands, soils, wood) or energy fuels, used for the first time. Material that came from nature and is in an unprocessed or minimally processed state.
Primary resource
ISO/DIS 59004
Natural resource or energy that is used as a resource for the first time as input in a process or for creating a product.
Principal contractor
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) (UK)
The contractor with control over the construction phase of a project involving more than one contractor.
Process
ISO/DIS 59004
Set of interrelated or interacting activities that transforms inputs into outputs.
Product
ISO 14050/6707-1:2020 / ISO/DIS 59004
Any goods or service / construction product item manufactured or processed for incorporation in construction works. Physical-based object designed for or utilized with a purpose.
Product category rules (PCR)
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Rules, requirements and guidelines for developing type III environmental declarations.
Product environmental criteria
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Environmental factors and conditions for a certain product which, when met by the producer, allow for the affixing of a symbol/label certifying its compliance.
Product flow
ISO 14050:2020
Products entering from or leaving to another product system.
Product function characteristic
ISO 14050:2020
Attribute or characteristic in the performance and use of a product.
Product specification
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Written statement of a product’s required (or actual) characteristics documented in a manner that facilitates its procurement or production and acceptance.
Product system
ISO 14050:2020
Collection of unit processes with elementary flows and product flows, performing one or more defined functions and which models the life cycle of a product.
Product system value
ISO 14050:2020
Worth or desirability ascribed to a product system.
Products manufacturer
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
May contribute to the waste audit providing solutions and/or requirements for the reused/recycled materials and components.
Property owner
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Person responsible for appointing an auditor to draw up a waste audit for the identification and classification of waste as well as preliminary planning of its handling.
Raw material
ISO 14050:2020
Primary or secondary material that is used to produce a product.
Recover value
ISO/DIS 59004
Process of recuperating the value of the object of consideration (i.e., a resource).
Recoverable resource
ISO/DIS 59004
Resource that can potentially be recovered and used again after it has already been processed or used.
Recovered material
ISO 6707-3:2022
Material that has already been processed or used, then separated, diverted from previous use or removed from a waste stream in order to be recycled for usage as a product performing another function, reused for the same purpose or used to substitute primary materials.
Recovered resource
ISO/DIS 59004
See secondary resource.
Recovery
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Any operation the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfill a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfill that function, in the plant or in the wider economy. Annex II sets out a non-exhaustive list of recovery operations.
Recyclable
ISO 14050:2020
Characteristic of a product, including packaging and associated components, that can be diverted from the waste stream through available processes and programmes, and can be collected, processed and returned to use in the form of raw materials.
Recycled aggregate
Mineral Products Association / https://www.buschsystems.com/blog/glossary-terms/
Product of processing inert construction and demolition waste, asphalt plannings and used railway ballasts into construction aggregates. Recycled Aggregates is a term that describe crushed cement concrete or asphalt pavement from construction debris that is reused in other building projects.
Recycling
Article 3, Definitions, Directive 2008/98/EC / European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak… / Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018 / ISO/DIS 59004
Any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations. Process by which a discarded material is collected, sorted, processed and converted into raw materials which are then used in the production of new products. Process where materials are collected, processed and re manufactured into new products or use as a raw material substitute. Activities to obtain recovered resources for use in a process or a product, excluding energy recovery.
Refurbish
ISO/DIS 59004
Restore an item, during its expected service life, to a useful condition for the same purpose with at least similar quality and performance characteristics.
Refurbishment
ISO 6707-1:2020; EN 15643-1:2018
Modification and improvements to an existing building in order to bring it up to an acceptable condition.
Refuse-derived fuels
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Waste that is used entirely or to a large extent for the purpose of energy generation. Waste materials which are generally reusable as RDF include tires, rubber, paper, textiles, exhausted oils, wood, plastics, industrial waste, hazardous waste and solid urban waste.
Remanufacture
ISO/DIS 59004
Return an item to original condition from both a quality and performance perspective using an industrial process.
Remanufacturing
ISO/DIS 59004
Industrial process by which an item is returned to original condition from both quality and performance perspective.
Remediation
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Action or measure taken to lessen, clean- up, remove or mitigate the existence of hazardous materials existing on a property to such standards, specifications or requirements as may be required by statutes, rules or regulations.
Renewable resource
ISO 21930:2017; ISO/DIS 59004
Resource that is grown, naturally replenished or cleansed on a human time scale. Resource that can be naturally or artificially grown or regenerated using processes found in nature within a foreseeable time frame.
Renovation
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Work that involves the structural alteration of buildings, the substantial replacement of main services or finishes and/or the substantial changed use of floor space whilst at the same time including associated redecoration and repair works on the one hand and related new building on the other. Renovation covers all the work done to existing buildings as the four R's: renovation, rehabilitation, restoration and remodeling. Renovation is addressed from a broad perspective, including residential, historical and commercial buildings owned and managed by private/public companies or authorities.
Repair
ISO/DIS 59004
Action to restore a product to a condition needed for the product to function according to its original purpose.
Repurpose
ISO/DIS 59004
Adapt a product, or its component parts for use in a different function than it was originally intended for without making major modifications to its physical or chemical structure.
Repurposing
ISO/DIS 59004
Process by which a product, or its component parts are adapted for use in a different function than it was originally intended for without making major modifications to its physical or chemical structure.
Residual service life
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Predicted remaining service life of a building or structure partway through its use phase.
Residual waste
Material left after any waste treatment process, including industrial, urban, agricultural, mining or other similar treatments.
Residue
Something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated or after the completion of a process. Usually small amount of something that remains after a process has been completed or a thing has been removed.
Resilience
ISO/DIS 59004
Ability to endure, resist, adapt to, or recover from disruptive events or conditions, whether natural or anthropogenic.
Resource
ISO/DIS 59004
Asset from which a solution is created or implemented.
Responsible materials sourcing / Responsible sourcing schema
European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Holistic approach managing a product from the point at which a material is mined or harvested in its raw state through manufacture and processing, through use, reuse and recycling, until its final disposal as waste with no further value.
Responsible sourcing (of materials)
ISO 6707-3:2022
Sustainable approach to managing a product from the point at which its raw materials and energy are extracted or harvested in their raw state through manufacturing and processing.
Restoration
The act of restoring or state of being restored, as to a former or original condition, place, etc.
Retain value
ISO/DIS 59004
Process of maintaining the value of the object of consideration (i.e., a resource).
Retrofitting
To furnish (something, such as a computer, airplane, or building) with new or modified parts or equipment not available or considered necessary at the time of manufacture OR to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed OR to adapt to a new purpose or need.
Reuse
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016) / Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018 / EN 15643-1:2010; Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC ISO/DIS 59004
Any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived. Using materials or building elements on more than one occasion, either for the same or for a different purpose, without the need for reprocessing. Any operation through which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived or used for other purposes (without reprocessing). Use of a product after its initial use, for the same purpose for which it was originally designed.
Reverse logistics
ISO/DIS 59004
Process of managing, collecting, and moving products from their current location after the end-of-use for the purpose of recovering or retaining value through proper handling.
Reversible connection
ISO 6707-3:2022
Connection that can be disconnected and/or disassembled for easy alterations and additions to structures.
Scavenging
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Activity of identifying usable materials that takes place after demolition; in this context, particularly re usable and recyclable materials.
Secondary data
ISO 14050:2020
Data that do not fulfill the requirements for primary data.
Secondary material
EN 15643:2021 / European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak…
Material recovered from previous use or from waste which substitutes primary materials. Material which substitutes a primary material.
Secondary raw material
Study on the EU list of Critical Raw Materials
Materials that can be recycled and then injected back into the economy as new raw materials. SRMs are typically obtained either from production waste or from End- of-Life products, sent to recycling plants at the end of their lifespan.
Secondary resource
ISO/DIS 59004
Resource that is obtained from a resource that has already been processed or used.
Selective deconstruction
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Means removal of materials from a demolition site in a pre-defined sequence in order to maximize recovery and recycling performance.
Selective demolition
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Sequencing the demolition activities to allow the separation and sorting of building materials.
Separated collection
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Collection where a waste stream is kept separately by type and nature so as to facilitate a specific treatment.
Service
ISO/DIS 59004
Activity designed or executed with a purpose.
Service life
ISO 15686-1:2011 / ISO 14050:2020
Period of time after installation during which a building or an assembled system meets or exceeds the performance requirements. Period of time during which a product in use meets or exceeds the performance requirements.
Serviceability
ISO 15686-10:2010
Capability of a facility, building or other constructed asset, or of an assembly, component or product.
Smart manufacturing
IBM. (2022) What is Industry 4.0? Ibm; IBM
See 'Industry 4.0'.
Stage
ISO 6707-2:2017
Distinct period in a project used as a management tool.
Stockpiling location
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Platform for storing waste that can be moved.
Stripping
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Activity of removing valuable materials from a site, installation or building that takes place before demolition.
Subcontractor
Merrian-Webster Dictionary
An individual or business firm contracting to perform part or all of another's contract.
Supply chain
ISO 14050:2020
Those involved, through upstream and downstream linkages, in activities delivering value in the form of a product to different interested parties.
Sustainability
Ellen McArthur Foundation
All activities which ensure that human beings can co exist with the natural world around them. This can involve scientific and technological invention as well as a careful practice to reduce the depletion of natural resources. In the Butterfly Diagram, defined by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, sustainability involves all the activities on the left side. These are focused on the biosphere which means that all practices concern and involve natural resources (see circularity definition).
Sustainable development
Brundtland Report (1987); ISO 14050:2020
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
System
Uniclass 2015 / RIBA Plan of Works 2020 / PAS 2080:2023 / ISO/DIS 59004
Collection of components that go together to make an element or to carry out a function. For a pitched roof, the rafters, lining, tiles, ceiling boards, insulation and ceiling finish comprise a system, or a low temperature hot water heating system is formed from a boiler, pipework, tank, radiators, etc. A signal system for a railway has a number of components and products; and the scum removal system is part of a waste water treatment entity. The constituent parts of a building, including, but not limited to, structural systems, mechanical and electrical systems, façade, ceiling, floors and wall systems. Collection and interconnection of all physical facilities and human interactions that are operated in a coordinated way to provide a particular service. Set of interrelated or interacting elements.
System boundary
EN 15643:2021 / ISO 14050:2020
Interface in the assessment between a building (or structure) and the environment or other product systems. Boundary based on a set of criteria specifying which unit processes are part of the system under study.
Temporary works
FIDIC / ISO 6707-2:2017
All temporary works of every kind (other than Contractor's Equipment) required on site for the execution and completion of the permanent works and the remedying of any defects. Works undertaken during construction work or works to stabilize or protect an existing building or structure, neither works of which are intended or required to form part of the completed construction works.
Testing body
ISO 14050:2020
Organization providing an environment for testing, test implementation and means for performing and reporting on the testing.
Testing plan
ISO 14050:2020
Planning document detailing the principles, test methods, conditions, procedures and data quality required to carry out testing and to produce test data.
Testing report
ISO 14050:2020
Document describing conditions and results of testing, and usually including a description of or reference to procedures.
Traceability
ISO 6707-2:2017; ISO/DIS 59004
Ability to trace the history, application or location of that which is under consideration.
Treatment
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Recovery or disposal operations, including preparation prior to recovery or disposal.
Unavoidable waste
Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction (Construction Leadership Council, 2020)
Waste that is considered unsuitable for further use, for example materials that are considered as hazardous such as asbestos (and asbestos contaminated materials), or material treated with persistent organic pollutants.
Unit process
ISO 14050:2020
Smallest element considered in the life cycle inventory analysis for which input and output data are quantified.
Up-cycling
To recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item: to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value). Process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value.
Upgradability
ISO 14050:2020
Characteristic of a product that allows its modules or parts to be separately upgraded or replaced without having to replace the entire product.
Useful life
Merrian-Webster Dictionary
Estimated amount of time during which an asset or facility will yield income or be useful.
Validation
ISO 14050:2020
Confirmation through the provision of objective evidence that the requirements for a specific intended use or application have been fulfilled.
Value
ISO/DIS 59004
Gain/s or benefit/s from satisfying needs and expectations, in relation to the use and the conservation of resources.
Value chain
ISO/DIS 59004
Set of organizations that provide a solution that results in value for them.
Virgin resource
ISO/DIS 59004
Primary resource.
Waste
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC / European Economic and Social Committee. Lets speak… / ISO/DIS 59004
Any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard. Material, often considered unusable, left over from any manufacturing, industrial, agricultural or other human process. Resource that is considered to not be an asset as it, at the time, provides no value to the holder.
Waste audit
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Assessment of construction and demolition waste streams prior to demolition or renovation of buildings and infrastructures.
Waste auditor
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Expert or the team of experts (auditors team) performing the waste audit. It can be represented by the building owner or consultant (e.g. an architect or structure engineer) acting on behalf of the owner.
Waste characterisation
Process by which the composition of different waste streams is analysed. Waste characterisation plays an important part in any treatment of waste which may occur. Waste characterization means finding out how much paper, glass, food waste, etc. is discarded in your waste stream. Waste characterization information helps in planning how to reduce waste, set up recycling programs, and conserve money and resources.
Waste dumping
The disposal of solid wastes without environmental controls.
Waste holder
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Waste producer or the natural or legal person who is in possession of the waste.
Waste inventory
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Set of data from the waste audit. It comprises a list of materials and products, including quantities estimation, waste code, location and characteristics identified from desk study and field survey (geometry, properties, condition, etc.). Additional testing may be required and results should be attached.
Waste management
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
The collection, transport, recovery (including sorting), and disposal of waste, including the supervision of such operations and the after care of disposal sites, and including actions taken as a dealer or broker.
Waste management plan
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Sets out the approach to demolition, the treatment and logistics of the materials identified in the pre-demolition audit.
Waste manager
Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Responsible for the appropriate management and disposal of the waste received from the waste holder or producer. The waste manager should also contribute to the traceability aspects of waste.
Waste minimisation
Osmani, M. (2012) Construction waste minimization in the UK: current pressures for change and approaches. Procedia Social and Behavioural Sciences 40, pp 37-40 / https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/sectors/construction-waste-management/how-to-reduce-waste-in-construction/#:~:text=Reducing%20waste%20on%20a%20construction,%2Drelated%20accidents%20on%2Dsite
The reduction of waste at source, (i.e. designing out waste) by understanding its root causes. and re engineering current processes and practices to alleviate its generation. Reducing waste on a construction site to ensure as little waste as possible goes to landfill.
Waste prevention
DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Extension of the life span of products.
Waste producer (originator)
Article 3, Definitions, DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC / Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings, May 2018
Anyone whose activities produce waste (original waste producer) or anyone who carries out pre-processing, mixing or other operations resulting in a change in the nature or composition of this waste. Means anyone whose activities produce waste. The waste producer is the person or legal entity that executes the demolition/renovation work.
Waste recovery
DIRECTIVE 2008/98/EC
Any operation the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfill a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfill that function, in the plant or in the wider economy2. It includes preparing for re-use, recycling, backfilling, energy recovery and other operations which are listed in Annex II of the directive 2008/98/EC
Waste reduction
Liu, J., Yi, Y., Wang, X. (2020) Exploring factors influencing construction waste reduction: A structural equation modelling approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 276, 123185 / https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary
Reducing the amount of hazardous waste produced during construction projects to the minimum feasible degree; in turn reducing the impact of waste on the environment, and promoting sustainable development of the construction industry. The minimization of waste at its source to minimize the quantity required to be treated and disposed of, achieved usually through better product design and/or process management. Also called waste minimization.
Waste to energy
ISO 6707-3:2022 / https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary
Conversion of waste materials for which no recycling demand exists diverted from a landfill into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. Waste-to-energy scheme means incineration of waste with recovery of generated energy. Waste to-energy schemes turn waste into steam or electricity to heat, cool, light and/or otherwise power homes and industry through the process of combustion. Just as coal, oil or natural gas is burned in boilers to generate electricity, waste is used as a fuel to generate power.
Waste transfer station
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Any site, location, tract of land, installation, or building that is used or intended to be used primarily for the purpose of transferring solid wastes.
Waste treatment
EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol (2016)
Recovery or disposal operations, including preparation prior to recovery or disposal.
Waste-to-energy
World Energy Council (2013) World Energy Resources: Waste-to energy. https://www.worldenergy.org/assets/images/imported/2013/10/WER_2013_7b_Waste_to_Energy.pdf / ISO 6707-3:2022
Any waste treatment process that creates energy in the form of electricity, heat or transport fuels (e.g. diesel) from a waste source. Conversion of waste materials for which no recycling demand exists diverted from a landfill into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery.
Whole-life cost
ISO 15686-5:2017
All significant and relevant initial and future costs and benefits of an asset, throughout its life cycle, while fulfilling the performance requirements (compare to life-cycle cost).
Zero waste
ISO 6707-3:2022
Philosophy that encourages the design of resource life cycle so that waste is eliminated and all products are reused or recycled.
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