LoopedIn: July 2025

Updates from CELC’s Managing Director, Paul Shorthouse

The Canadian federal government has unequivocally made housing a national priority, evident through its comprehensive National Housing Strategy (NHS) and recent initiatives like the Housing Accelerator Fund and the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. These programs are designed to significantly increase housing supply, improve affordability, and ensure more Canadians have a safe and sustainable place to call home.

However, our current construction practices—which see millions of tons of demolition waste end up in landfills annually—are not only unsustainable, but are detrimental to both our economy and resources. So how are we to approach achieving this ambitious housing agenda?

The answer lies in circular construction: Instead of tearing buildings down, they can be carefully refurbished, rearranged or deconstructed, their valuable materials salvaged and given new life.

By embracing circular practices in our design, management and repurposing of both new and existing buildings, we can regain immense amounts of value, save on incredible amounts of time and labour, and meet the needs of Canadians.

Despite the clear benefits, widespread adoption of circular construction in Canada faces hurdles. Outdated policies, financial structures that undervalue salvaged materials, and a cultural bias towards new materials are significant barriers.

We recently co-hosted the latest episode of the Wicked Solutions series on TheFutureEconomy.ca in collaboration with Generate Canada to discuss with leading experts why circular construction is Canada’s path to climate resilience and economic strength. The conversation revealed that to truly unlock Canada’s circular construction future, a concerted effort is needed, which includes:

• Policy Reform: Updating building codes and insurance frameworks to incentivize and support the use of reclaimed materials.
• Economic Incentives: Developing financial models that recognize and reward the savings and environmental benefits of deconstruction.
• Shifting Mindsets: Cultivating a demand for salvaged materials and challenging the perception that they are somehow “less than” new ones.
• National Strategy: Implementing a cohesive national strategy for circularity that brings together federal, provincial, and municipal governments, along with builders and suppliers.

CELC’s Circular Construction Innovation Hub is seeking to implement these changes and accelerate the transition of the built environment to a circular economy across the value chain. Learn more about the Hub and how you can help share the transformation to a more productive and sustainable construction sector.

View Full Newsletter