The Role of Product Certification in the Transition towards the Circular Economy for the Construction Sector

Abstract

The present study explores the environmental quality (natural and recycled content, recyclability, life cycle method) of a sample of certified construction products available in different database in Italy (Remade in Italy, Atlante dell’Economia Circolare, Observatory Recycle-Legambiente Report, Accredia). The results evidence the identification of a wide range of construction products with different certified recycled contents and Italian origin under the certification standard “Remade in Italy”. Moreover, 42% of the certified products rely on the use of LCA for the assessment of the environmental impacts, while 22% of certified products integrate the features of recycled content with the recyclability at the end-of-life. Overall, results show the role certifications may have in increasing the information available on products and their environmental quality, including their traceability in the reverse supply chain, becoming a potential driver for CE adoption and a wider development for such products.