CI3

The construction sector is responsible for 39% of energy and process related CO2 emissions in 2018 and no other industry in the world uses more materials by weight and more embodied energy. Earth construction has the potential to offer significant advantages over conventional techniques in terms of sustainability and circularity. To fully exploit its potential and ensure its widespread application, it needs to be transformed from a small-scale niche manufacturing activity to large-scale automated manufacturing of earth building products in a mass production context. CI3 aims to set the stage for this new industrial ecosystem (processes, products, production systems, etc.) to emerge around circular and earthen construction. This process includes mapping material sources, testing, processing and classifying materials, providing solutions to increase supply chain efficiency, establishing standardisation strategies and presenting solutions to integrate products into buildings. The outcome of this project will increase the use and deployment of green solutions with a very low carbon and environmental footprint, through a comprehensive overview of different earth solutions and their life cycle assessment (LCA). It will also increase the use and recovery of construction waste. To achieve this overall objective, a partnership of 9 universities and research centres providing expertise, 5 governmental organisations providing pilots and innovations in standardisation and certification, and 10 partners from SMEs and large industries developing and exploiting innovations. IC3 encompasses 6 objectives: 1) Materials research and processing 2) Supply chain management and digital marketplace 3) Standardisation and parametric design 4) Certification and regulatory readiness 5) Advanced automated or hybrid manufacturing 6) Acceptance, uptake and exploitation (through the realisation of six demonstrators) 6 demonstrators will be carried out in Europe and beyond (Botswana and South Africa). The methodology merges state-of-the-art earth building technologies: (i) Rapid Modular 3D printing; (ii) Engineered Composite Pressed Earth - ECPE; (iii) High Pressure Pressed Bricks; (iv) New Soil to regenerate depleted soils and recycle urban organic waste. In addition to the scientific practices and new concepts studied, IC3 will implement recommended practices to stimulate knowledge sharing on construction circularity, technical and policy innovation, market uptake, social acceptance and standardisation of waste use for this sector. For the successful implementation of CI3, the consortium has associated a set of outcomes and a technology readiness level (TRL) to each objective. These outcomes will be assessed using key performance indicators (KPIs), which will lead to the achievement of the outcomes and wider impacts on improving the quality of life in rural areas. In cities, urban dwellers will be encouraged to embrace the products of the land and transform them into a sustainable, conscious, regenerative, geographically unbounded and circular economy. The new land-based value chain will increase competitiveness and strengthen the EU's industrial and resource independence by limiting the use of non-renewable raw materials and reducing the negative environmental footprint, until it can contribute to climate neutrality and better resource efficiency.