Do you know the meaning of Overshoot Day?
On May 20th we reached the Spain Overshoot Day, an ecological footprint tracking calculation offered by Global Footprint Network, which marks the date on which humanity’s annual demand for resources exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in that year.
It is a shocking statistic that aims to call on governments and organizations to develop policies and strategies to reduce the ecological footprint and promote sustainable development.
This ecological footprint can be calculated for each country and specifically for Spain this day was last May 20. That is to say, on May 20th our country had exhausted the natural resources that correspond to it for the whole year 2024.
It is time to take action and change the development model. Globally and in all sectors we must change the way we produce and stop using virgin materials.
The reuse and valuation of “waste” is key in an equation that results in a sustainable consumption of resources.
The ecological footprint of the construction sector must be reduced and the sustainable use of natural resources is key.
The construction sector is one of the largest consumers of natural resources globally and in Europe. Overall, it is estimated that the construction sector consumes approximately 50% of the natural resources extracted, uses 40% of the total energy (both in the production of building materials and in construction and demolition activities), accounts for 30% of water consumption (for the production of materials and during construction activities) and generates between 25-30% of solid waste: Construction and demolition waste accounts for a large part of the solid waste generated.
Although construction plays a very important role in development, the consequences on the environment can be devastating due to the unsustainable use of natural resources and, specifically, soil degradation and contamination, which are one of the main causes of the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity.
However, despite this tragic scenario, we have the opportunity for change. Construction has the opportunity to mitigate its ecological footprint through a paradigm shift towards a circular economy.
How can the construction sector successfully move towards circularity and reduce the use of virgin materials?
For a transformation of the sector towards circular construction, progress must be made in several key aspects that must be incorporated in all new projects, such as :
Modular construction: Create buildings with designs that facilitate their maintenance, repair and reuse in all phases of their life cycle. Adopting techniques such as modular construction to reduce waste during the construction, deconstruction and reuse phases.
Choice of circular materials: Developers and builders can influence for tracking and returning building materials (in the quantity and quality received) to suppliers for reuse/recycling. The use of circular and non-toxic materials reduces pollution and virgin material consumption.
Safe and healthy materials: A circular built environment promotes human well-being and the conservation of natural systems, ensuring building materials without causing environmental degradation.
Honext Boards are a next generation of circular interior building materials.
At the heart of our vision is a commitment to accelerate the transition to circular construction. Beyond simply reducing waste and minimizing its ecological footprint, the idea behind the HONEXT board is much bigger. The company’s goal is to develop the next generation of fibreboards revaluing waste and using it as raw material, could be reused (upcycling instead of downcycling) and can also be recycled at the end of their useful life, making them 100% circular.
Honext panels have multiple applications, they are perfect for temporary constructions, such as museums, exhibitions and fairs, acoustic panels or interior cladding and most importantly, they are a responsible and safe option for those architects or construction companies that want to be part of the change and comply with the standards of the circular economy, thus contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future.
Today, the HONEXT® process is Circular by design Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold, and our boards are just at the beginning of a transformative journey. Join us!
