VIRTUAL Barcelona

Abstract

In Mexico City, 14,000 tons of waste are produced from the construction and demolition industry, of which only 7% is recycled. In 2015, the “Paris Agreement” was signed, where several countries around the world committed to reducing CO2 emissions to reverse climate change; Mexico signed the “Paris Agreement” in 2016 and is positioned as the country with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in Latin America; it commits to a 22% reduction in GHG emissions (greenhouse gases generated by human activities) and 51% in black carbon (produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and the burning of wood). The challenge for the 21st century is the incorporation of sustainability as a variable in design processes to improve people’s quality of life and establish sustainable production processes in cities. Wood material is important for reuse after the end of its useful life in the construction industry for the following reasons: a) Trees have multi-year growth cycles that require resource investment (human, hydraulic, etc.) b) The burning of wood produces black carbon emissions, which in rural communities in Mexico is used as fuel. c) The reincorporation of waste wood from the construction industry after processing extends the life of the material and dampens the growing demand for wood products. Recycling and the application of the circular economy to waste building materials are important for the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.