Learn more BeyondSustainability£350,000 in savings22 Baker StreetLearn more 130,000kg CO2eExemplar of Wellbeing
33% of structure retainedLearn more
& Nature in WorkspaceThe LanternOasis Nature Garden100% reused materials
Learn more West Somerset Lagoonrenewable energy
able to power 2m homes
120+ years of predictable
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“The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting.”
The Goal
For the past three years, MBA has been in transition. In 2021 we wrote a strategy for change, aiming to become a regenerative design practice aligned with the planetary emergency, where all projects are designed, constructed, and operated within planetary boundaries, maximising social justice and biodiversity outcomes. Vital to this has been the curation of our circularity strategies, in particular the orchestration of donor-recipient relationships, as described by the Urban Mining Tondo. Championing reuse and minimising waste, we have worked with pioneering developers, contractors, deconstruction contractors, designers, and consultants to promote circular strategies and advocate for circular infrastructure. Circularity requirements are now being written into regulation, such as the London Plan Guidance Circular Economy Statements, which applies to the largest developments in London that are referable to the Mayor (London Plan Policy 2021 SI 7). There are also a number of statutory and financial incentives, inspiring developers to revolutionise their practice, such as:
• Achieving ESG targets, satisfying funders and/or insurers • Achieving planning conditions (% of reuse) • Successful Circular Economy Statements • Achieving Whole Life Carbon targets • Striving for BREEAM accreditation • Attracting users and tenants to the developments • Cost and Carbon savings (reducing offsetting costs)
Our consultancy role and value added to you
1. Extensive circular economy network and understanding of the status quo, opportunities, and activities in this field. 2. Creation of an estate wide emerging circularity strategy, unique to your portfolio, aims, opportunities and constraints. 3. Chair a Regenerative Design Workshop and upskilling for the Client and consultant team. 4. Chair a Circular Economy Workshop and site walkaround to establish routes for reuse i.e. if any materials can be REUSED IN SITU, or in a recipient building, or materials platform etc. 5. Advise the design/ construction teams on methods of specifying for reuse and minimising waste. 6. Advise the client on how best to embed reuse practices within contracts and appointments. 7. Advising on briefing to encourage successful regenerative projects from the outset. 8. Advise appointed deconstruction sub-contractor team on routes for materials and logistics in each case. 9. Advise client on future material assets and current physical storage opportunities of their own estate. 10. Calculating high-level carbon metrics. 11. Analyse and highlight local social and climate justice opportunities. 12. Outline high level climate risks and adaption policies for existing portfolio.
