Organic Waste May Become the Building Blocks of Future Sustainable Cities

More and more companies are tinkering with broader applications of a circular economy, promoting less waste and fewer raw resources than in the conventional linear model.

Engineering firm Arup is advocating for a circular economy in the construction industry, which is responsible for approximately 39 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions, and 534 million tons of debris - more than double that of municipal waste, Fast Co.Design reports. The argument centers around using organic waste like bananas and sunflowers as building materials to channel resources more effectively.

An estimated 90 percent is from the demolition of old buildings and 10 percent is from new-building construction. Pair that with another staggering statistic: 60 million tons of food–about half of all produce–is thrown away annually. Applying circular thinking could mean less produce in landfills if it’s used to make building materials, and making building materials that are recyclable to divert construction waste from dumps. Meanwhile, some materials could be grown like crops, eliminating excess waste entirely.

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