To avoid unnecessary materials use, cost and disruption arising from the need for future adaptation works as a result of changing functional demands and to maximise the ability to reclaim and reuse materials at final demolition in line with the principles of a circular economy.

• Reduce waste and cost associated with future refurbishment or fit-out works and ultimately in demolition.
• Improve the ability to cost-effectively reuse and recycle materials.
• Increase the lifetime value of materials and products.
• Encourage consideration of circular economy principles during design and construction.
• Reduce costs and disruption associated with the need for future adaptation, demolition and strip-out, thereby reducing the associated waste and costs.

The construction industry is responsible for approximately 60% of total UK materials use and one-third of all waste produced1 Cheshire D. Building revolutions: Applying the circular economy to the built environment. RIBA; 2016. . At least 17 million tonnes of inert waste are produced by the UK construction industry2 Adams K, Hobbs G, Yapp C. Dealing with difficult demolition wastes: A guide. IHS BRE Press; 2013. . Typically buildings are stripped out or in many cases even demolished considerably earlier than their design life would predict or structural stability require. In most cases only high value materials are reclaimed or reused and many resources are either used for low grade uses, taken to landfill or, in some cases, even illegally dumped leading to increased environmental damage and costs to local authorities and society. This risk can be reduced by considering building adaptability and also future disassembly to allow easy material separation and reuse. This includes exposed and reversible connections, layer independence and standardisation which can facilitate disassembly.