A press release from the French 'Syndicat Professionnel du Réemploi dans la Construction' (professional union for the reuse of material in construction) SPREC states that it is bringing stakeholders in reuse together and encouraging the construction sector to adopt a lower carbon and resource-efficient model by promoting the positive impacts of reclamation and reuse. Adaptation to climate change requires preventive actions but also parallel actions to limit the increase in temperature on the earth's surface. Reuse and circular economy approaches are a good example of this because they limit the depletion of resources through better management and lead to a shift in local sectors towards economic models that are better adapted to market developments. In this way, these practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a major factor in global warming.

The work carried out and summarised in the French government PNACC (national climate change adaptation plan) is exhaustive. For the construction sector, several measures are proposed aimed at adapting design studies in order to respond to the comfort of users and the sustainability of the works. In the proposed plan, there is no mention of reuse and more broadly of the circular economy.

However, we identify these concepts as an additional lever that would be important to name. We propose here to detail how these can effectively improve the resilience of the building sector. In particular, concerning measure 38 “Ensuring the resilience of the timber industry economy” of axis 3, we understand that it is important to preserve this ecosystem and the industry that manages it. In this sense, wood reuse industries are players that should not be overlooked. Indeed, reused wood comes from the selective deconstruction of structural or non-structural structures, and whose qualities have been preserved. Reuse stakeholders are able to requalify its products, often noble solid wood, and transform them to give them a new use. This approach makes it possible to avoid their recycling or incineration while preventing the forest from being unnecessarily harvested and to its subjects to continue their growth. Ultimately, these are carbon emissions avoided and a reduced demand for wood materials from forests.

In addition, current studies do not allow us to state with certainty the state of the soils in a climate at +4°C. Will they still be suitable to support the repeated planting and removal of trees on the same plots? Will they still be rich enough to ensure the growth of specimens? We believe that it is important now to strengthen the circular economy of wood, both in the already specialised sectors but also in manufacturers, so that their transition and adaptation are in line with the vulnerability of this resource.

To go further, we believe that the circular economy applied to all geo-sourced (e.g. stone, earth) and bio-sourced (wood, straw, hemp, wool) sectors must develop further in order to hope to respond to the climate adaptations of the construction sector. The materials in question are identified as relevant solutions to the issues of reducing the carbon impact, but also thermal comfort in high heat situations. These are most often local resources and sometimes come from agricultural co-products. In addition, in the event of a disorder, the repairability and dismantling of the structures are also facilitated, unlike concrete or steel buildings. This contributes to their growth and leads us to reflect on the management of its resources to meet demand and maintain deposits. Thus, in the same way as the integration of the circular economy within the wood sectors, the resilience of the construction sector depends on the reuse and good management of the materials/resources that support it.

The application and reuse of these materials on a larger scale requires removing certain obstacles that currently limit their use. It would also be a question of facilitating their implementation, or even removing these obstacles. In addition to the proposals made in axis 5, we propose a point to locally rethink the construction economy. It concerns the management of resources by the various players in the construction industry by integrating the reuse of materials for the structuring of a circular economy and the support of local sectors.

In order to limit construction waste and promote the use of suitable/relevant materials to build in a way that is suitable for +4°C, the construction and development market must strengthen its position, already encouraged by the AGEC* law and RE2020** (see below). In this sense, public stakeholders have the power to promote the integration of geo-sourced, bio-sourced and reused materials to create a virtuous and resilient economy through public procurement. For private projects, an incentive or the strengthening of regulations would help guide them towards the same ambitions. By motivating the sponsors, the decarbonised materials sectors will be able to structure themselves and develop to meet their demands.

Adaptation to climate change is obviously linked to adaptation to local resources. Beyond a reuse approach, the search for deposits present on the regional and national territory is to be promoted. These actions make it possible to encourage a reappropriation of these resources for the construction of tomorrow by adapting to the resources close to the operations. In doing so, they support local sectors and their anchoring in their territory. Beyond public or private clients, construction companies should initiate or strengthen their approach to soliciting reuse channels. This action is reflected in the prioritisation of these decarbonised channels when disposing of waste produced, many of which have reuse potential.

In summary, we propose strengthening wood reuse practices. Strengthening geo-sourced and bio-sourced material sectors in the construction sector in their quality of reusable and sustainably managed materials. Encouraging construction and development stakeholders to use these decarbonised materials. Encouraging companies to prioritise reuse channels.