Scenari circolari: il ruolo degli scarti nell’innovazione di procedimento, processo e prodotto. Il caso di studio del settore dei laterizi. Circular scenarios: the role of waste and by-products for procedure, process, and product innovation. The case study of the brick industry

Waste management is one of the main challenges of the United Nations' sustainable development plans under the 2030 Agenda. Considering the European area, the statistical data provided by Eurostat shows an annual waste production of about 2337 million tonnes, 35.9% of which comes from the Building and Construction (B&Cs) alone. In this context, how end-of-life products are managed and treated can influence climate change, both positively and negatively. As a result, it is necessary to shift from a linear to a circular economy, encouraging reuse, recycling and recovery of materials and products. The implementation of circular policies in the B&Cs represents an opportunity to rethink the current production processes of materials and the design processes of the built environment. Through a transversal critical reading of the waste regulations in force in Europe and Italy, the article intends to illustrate circular practices in B&Cs with a multi-scalar approach: from territory to the product. More in detail, the application of the circular model to traditional materials is analyzed, explaining the case study of bricks. Overall, the paper demonstrates how the brick sector is a field of research in which circular scenarios can be the driver of process and product innovation. Such practices, however, require a systematic and programmatic vision: borrowed from long-term research experiences in collaboration with universities, research centres and consulting companies.