EMMy – Ecological material mini library > Glossary
Products in the "from recyclate" category have a share of used and recycled material. We distinguish in Emmy between >80%vol, >50%vol. and >20% vol. recyclate content.
By using recyclate, primary raw materials are preserved. A distinction is made between pre-consumer and post-consumer recycling. In pre-consumer recycling, industrial waste generated during production is recycled. Post-consumer recycling refers to the reuse/recycling of products that have already been used and disposed of by the end user.
Recyclable products are characterized by the fact that they can be single-variety recycled and that recycling is possible at a similar quality level.
The more purely a material can be reclaimed or processed, the greater the possibilities for high-quality recycling and thus the greater the range of applications. A prerequisite for recycling, meaning the shredding and processing of building products, is therefore the use of detachable joints of different material groups more specifically those whose separation is simple and less energy-intensive, or also single-material solutions. Difficult to detach adhesive joints without solvent solubility as well as the use of composite materials are problematic. The use of assembly foams and wet joining techniques when installing the products also make it difficult to separate the materials without leaving residues.
Products classified as "renewable" are characterized by the fact that their starting materials can be regenerated in less than 100 years. For products with several components, a distinction is made between >80%vol., >50%vol. and >20%vol. share of renewable raw materials.
When selecting renewable products, it is important to note that the environmental balance only represents the effects on the climate and secondary effects such as biodiversity and social factors are only included to a limited extent. When selecting products, various certificates can be consulted that provide information on environmental compatibility, working conditions and economic efficiency (e.g. the FSC and PEFC certificates for wood products).
As a general rule, renewable raw materials are preferable to non-renewable raw materials, although the longevity as well as the treatment of the products must be taken into account.
Products belonging to the "reusable" category have a high suitability to be used in several cycles of use.
Robust construction products with a long technical service life are suitable for potential reuse. Non-destructively detachable connections have a supporting effect, as the effort and thus the costs for reuse are low. Serial construction has features that favor labor- and cost-efficient deconstruction because of its efficient assembly during construction. Typical examples of reuse in building construction are prefabricated reinforced concrete elements or steel components.
The category "from reuse" includes all products that have already gone through a use phase and can be reused as a product, thus without crushing and processing. For products consisting of several components, a distinction is made between >80%vol., >50%vol. and >20%vol. proportion of reuse.
Robust building products with a long technical service life are suitable for potential reuse. Non-destructively detachable connections have a supporting effect, since the effort and thus the costs for reuse are low. Serial construction has features that favor labor- and cost-efficient deconstruction because of its efficient manufacturing during construction. Typical examples of reuse in building construction are prefabricated reinforced concrete elements or steel components. Already used secondary components can be found by architects and planners via platforms such as Harvestmap, Restado or Bauteilnetz. Outside of private construction projects, warranty and liability must be issued via testing institutes.