Specifying recycled: understanding UK architects’ and designers’ practices and experience

Abstract

This paper introduces findings from the Recycling by Design Research Project (Phase I) (see note 1 1 1 Note: Further information on the Recycling by Design Research Project, including all project reports, can be obtained from the website: http://www.recyclingbydesign.org.uk. ). The importance of developing new markets for recyclate in the UK is first established. Selected research findings are then presented from a questionnaire survey response obtained from 539 architects and 142 designers, and follow-up interviews conducted with 20 of those respondents. These findings identified that UK architects and designers do not currently specify recycled products and materials, and that there are a range of obstacles to their doing so. A concluding discussion briefly examines the UK Government’s current position on addressing such obstacles.