Sustainability is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. The scarcity of resources and the climate emergency force us to change our way of producing and consuming, based on a linear economy of use and throw away. It is necessary to move towards a new circular model where products, materials and resources are kept in the economy for as long as possible and waste generation is minimised.
In the field of construction, sustainability is a must. Today, building construction is responsible for between 35% and 50% of total CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Proper management of natural resources, the choice of materials and construction processes that have a low environmental impact and the design of efficient installations are key to building more efficiently and sustainably.
Upcycling, the origin of sustainable construction
Upcycling is the process of transforming a used product or parts of it to manufacture another of greater value than the original, without having gone through any industrial process.
Based on this principle, the Danish studio Lendager Arkitekter opened the Upcycled House in 2013, an experimental project considered a benchmark for sustainable architecture in Europe.
Two prefabricated containers were used for the structure, and recycled and transformed materials were used for the cladding, façade and floors. In this way, it was possible to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with the construction by 86%, compared to a house built with standard materials.
How shipping containers can help sustainable construction
Architecture with shipping containers complies with the 3R design concept : reduce, reuse and recycle.
Reduce
In traditional construction, the procurement and processing of materials such as concrete accounts for more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.
The manufacture and design of modular housing from containers requires fewer materials and foundations, shorter production times, and therefore reduced CO2 emissions.
Reuse
The containers are robust elements, capable of withstanding all kinds of climatic changes and blows, makes them a durable solution for reuse as a home, storage or any other alternative use.
Recycle
The recycling of shipping containers means that a structure designed for the maritime transport of goods can be transformed into construction modules with infinite possibilities of configuration, design and location.
The transformation of shipping containers is giving rise to a totally ecological, efficient and sustainable type of construction. If you are interested in using this type of structure for your projects, please contact us.
