The "FlowForma Construction Survey Results Report: Building the Foundations of the Future" (July 2022), published by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), explores the impact of digital transformation and workflow automation on the construction sector. The report highlights how construction decision-makers are transitioning away from manual processes and adopting automated, data-driven solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes.

The "Supporting the Circular Economy Transition in the Irish Construction Sector" report by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) provides a roadmap for enhancing material reuse and recycling in the construction sector. Section 6.2: Strategies for Material Reuse and Recycling (Page 46) emphasises that embracing circular economy principles is vital for meeting Ireland’s 2030 waste reduction goals.

With construction and demolition (C&D) waste accounting for a significant proportion of Ireland’s waste stream, the CIF highlights the need for industry-wide adoption of material reuse and recycling strategies to drive sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Ireland is on a journey towards a circular economy, and the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024–2030 plays a crucial role in shaping this transformation. A major aspect of this plan is the implementation of robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track progress towards construction and demolition (C&D) waste reduction and recycling targets, ensuring transparency and accountability.

County councils across Ireland are tasked with executing these measures within their jurisdictions, working closely with national and EU regulatory bodies. These efforts are essential in driving Ireland’s construction waste management practices forward and aligning them with the highest environmental standards.

Ireland has made significant strides in managing construction and demolition (C&D) waste, achieving an 82% recovery rate—exceeding the EU’s 70% target. However, a closer look at the figures reveals a critical issue: only 10% of this waste is recycled, with the vast majority directed towards backfilling. Additionally, while Ireland’s overall Circular Material Use Rate (CMUR) stands at a mere 1.8%, far below the EU average of 11.5%, the construction sector plays a crucial role in this deficit. The construction industry generated 32.6% of Ireland’s total waste in 2020, making it the largest contributor among all sectors. Yet, limited recycling and reuse efforts mean that valuable materials are not being reintegrated into the economy. This reliance on backfilling rather than recycling highlights a key area where improvement is necessary for Ireland to align with leading European countries in sustainable construction waste management.

The "Supporting the Circular Economy Transition in the Irish Construction Sector" report by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) highlights the growing role of digital tools in waste tracking. Section 3.2: Digital Innovations in Waste Tracking (Page 28) emphasises how advanced technologies can revolutionise the way construction and demolition (C&D) waste is managed, ensuring compliance with Ireland’s 2030 circular economy targets.

As Ireland moves towards stricter waste management regulations, the integration of digital solutions is no longer optional—it is an essential strategy for tracking, optimising, and reporting waste in real time. Digital innovations enhance efficiency, reduce landfill dependency, and help construction firms meet regulatory obligations while cutting costs.

Fluctuating Waste Figures Raise Red Flags

The Numbers Don’t Add Up 

2012: Ireland generated approximately 9 million tonnes of C&D waste.

2021: The country reported 9 million tonnes of C&D waste again.
2022: This number dropped to 8.3 million tonnes, with soil and stones making up 85% of this waste.

In today’s rapidly evolving sustainability landscape, companies in the construction sector are under increasing pressure to report on their environmental impact. But how much of that reporting is real—and how much is just greenwashing?

The Greenwashing Trap in Construction

The industry has historically relied on vague data sets, estimates, and generalised assumptions to meet sustainability reporting requirements. But as legislation tightens, the practice of overstating environmental credentials without real, verifiable data is becoming a high-risk strategy.

Are Your Reports Built on Guesswork?

Some of the most common greenwashing tactics in the construction sector include:

• Over-reliance on industry averages rather than project-specific emissions tracking.

• Self-certifying sustainability claims without third-party audits.

• Estimating material recycling rates instead of real-time monitoring.

• Lack of transparency in supply chain sustainability practices.

• Avoiding long-term accountability by highlighting minor eco-friendly changes while ignoring core environmental issues.

On March 1st, 2024, Ireland took a significant step towards a sustainable future with the launch of the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy. This plan, which will guide waste prevention and management from 2024 to 2030, is a comprehensive roadmap for reducing waste, promoting reuse, and increasing recycling rates across key sectors, including construction and demolition (C&D).

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has identified a critical issue within the EU’s construction and demolition waste (C&DW) management. Despite boasting high recovery rates, a significant portion of this waste is subjected to low-grade recovery operations like backfilling. To tackle this challenge and enhance the quality of recycling and reuse, the EEA is championing the adoption of circular economy practices across the construction sector.

In today’s rapidly evolving construction and infrastructure sectors, road planing recovery represents a significant untapped opportunity for optimisation and growth. With annual material recoveries valued at millions of euros, organisations face growing pressure to ensure compliance, improve efficiency, and meet sustainability benchmarks. Here’s why digitising road planing recovery with Hub360 is not just a smart move but an essential one for future success.

Illegal dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in Ireland is a pressing environmental and legal issue. The Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) highlights the importance of using reputable waste companies for C&D waste collections, noting a troubling history of illegal dumping linked to this waste type. Such unauthorised disposal not only harms the environment but also threatens groundwater quality, with the original waste generator potentially held accountable for environmental damage (IWMA).

In construction projects, where multiple subcontractors manage critical tasks such as product deliveries and the removal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from sites, the traditional approach of relying on end-of-day reports might seem sufficient. However, for large organisations with stringent compliance requirements, high-stakes audits, and the need to ensure operational efficiency, this approach often falls short. The gap between subcontractor reports and real-time oversight can lead to inefficiencies, compliance risks, and even reputational damage. Here’s why organisations must rethink their reliance on subcontractors’ self-reported data and embrace independent, real-time monitoring solutions like Hub360.