In terms of standards, the European standards committee CEN TC/350 SC1 (Circular Economy in Construction) is a sub-committee of CEN TC 350 Sustainability of Construction Works. The overall vision SC 1 is to provide the construction sector with a uniform approach that will facilitate and strengthen the construction industry’s transition to a more sustainable, circular economy, such as developing a common language and harmonisation that will contribute to scalability through standards focusing on use and reuse of materials. 

This Autumn sees the first meetings of new working groups covering aspects of circular data (including building and product/material passports), circularity assessment (including environmental performance and circularity indicators), reuse of construction products and materials, and designing for circularity (including reversibility, adaptability and reused content). A fifth working group will be established later in the year focused upon pre-demolition and pre-redevelopment audits. 

Most British Standards are developed at an international level, either through organisations that work globally (e.g. ISO) or just within Europe (e.g. CEN). BSI is closely involved with these organisations and its technical committees can nominate members to participate in the development of international standards. BSI is obliged to adopt all European standards (ENs) and to withdraw any existing British Standards that conflict with them. It is also possible to develop British Standards entirely within the UK, where not covered by international standardisation.