The IRISPHERE programme, supported by citydev.brussels, will officially launch the Woodpark by the end of the year as a solution for the recovery and reuse of wood from (de)construction sites. Thanks to a public-private partnership with experienced field companies MCB Atelier and BatiTerre, the Woodpark aims to bring together supply and demand for wood and increase the circularity of materials on Brussels construction sites.
Context
The construction sector is at a new turning point in its development, facing highly ambitious targets in terms of renovation and insulation rates and circularity, as set out in the various regional plans (Shifting Economy and the Renolution Alliance). Working on circularity means tackling the issues of logistics, flexible and modular construction, dismantlability and the reuse of materials.
The IRISPHERE programme, financed by the latest European Regional Development Fund, aims to boost the region’s circular economy by supporting companies and developing new sectors. In this context, citydev.brussels, in close partnership with the Ecores consultancy firm, has been working on the issue of reusing building materials since 2020, more specifically the challenge of identifying complementary solutions to those already offered by the sector, to encourage reuse at every project scale.
Why wood?
An analysis of the sector and its needs identified an interesting material with which to begin the test phase: wood. It is a material frequently found on construction sites, whether as “tool” wood (formwork, scaffolding, etc.) for finishing or for structural purposes. Furthermore, structural wood has a number of characteristics that make it ideal for re-use, namely it requires relatively little storage space compared with other materials, is easy to transport, dismantle and assemble, is easy to handle and retains its mechanical and aesthetic properties over time. Last but not least, a number of players in Brussels are already working with reclaimed wood. The Woodpark project was therefore created in 2021 to put existing channels, suppliers and customers in contact with each other.
The Woodpark
Drawing on an ever expanding ecosystem of players, the Woodpark has positioned itself as a facilitator between the supply of and demand for reused wood materials. It currently consists of two workshops, located near Anderlecht, which will be fitted out for storage, preparation for reuse, processing, training and new product development (R&D). Social economy enterprise BatiTerre is a specialist in multi-material construction reuse. It offers reuse services and has a physical and virtual shop for second-hand materials. It will prepare materials for re-use, resize wood and recover the final waste. MCB Atelier is a professional wood company that offers its expertise in machining quality wood projects with the aim of maximising re-use. Its role will be to transform the most difficult-to-market materials, innovate by proposing new ways of using materials, and inspire the sector with concrete, circular creations.
Lastly, the two partners will make the machines available to professionals organising reuse-oriented training courses and awareness-raising workshops or creating specific reuse projects.
citydev.brussels and its partners hope that this ambitious project will provide a structural solution to this problem and help to increase circularity in the sector. The Woodpark is currently still in the pilot stage, recovering relatively homogeneous deposits so it can continue testing progressive remarketing. In the coming months, the project will be able to accommodate more diverse deposits in greater numbers.
Would you like to incorporate reclaimed wood into your projects?
Do you have construction sites with homogeneous wood deposits that can be reused?
Would you like to be kept informed of project developments?
Please contact the Woodpark at: Woodpark@irisphere.brussels
