Introductory Reuse Course

AI Quick Summary

The construction sector lacks accessible, handson education and practical knowledge on circularity, leading to a lot of waste, CO₂ emissions and raw material extraction. This course provides training and certification by cirkla to empower participants to overcome barriers for the implementation of reuse strategies in their own projects. What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? (max. 200 words)The construction industry will require circular concepts to be embedded in future projects to reduce waste, CO₂ emissions, and raw material use. This hands-on course guides participants through the initial practical steps for the implementon of material reuse in future projects. Participants will engage in on-site workshops and work directly with reclaimed materials during a 1.5-day program. Successful projects in Basel and Winterthur are introduced as case studies to exemplify circularity in the construction industry. This applied learning model equips participants with actionable skills, enabling them to deepen and refine circular principles directly into their work. This course acts as a multiplicator of knowledge and scales networking opportunities. An additional expert course will be offered to deepen the theoretical understanding of circularity. By integrating diverse stakeholders across the construction value chain, the course promotes collaboration to rethink the educational landscape for future re-users towards circularity!The primary beneficiaries include planners, construction professionals, recyclers, developers, companies and public institutions, who seek to adopt circular and sustainable strategies in their projects. The course helps to fundamentally scale circular practices across the construction sector and participants will be listed on the platform of cirkla for reuse experts with actionable skills.How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (max. 100 words)The course drives waste reduction, lowers CO₂ emissions, and reduces raw material extraction by equipping professionals with circular construction skills. By transmitting knowledge and implementation strategies, new job and market opportunities are created in deconstruction, material assessment and circular design. This course is assumed to multiply the level of applied circular implementation by the factor of 3 in Switzerland. Long-term, this course supports resource-efficiency and economic prosperity by building a strong interdisciplinary network and helping the sector transition from linear to circular business models. It empowers individuals to contribute to systemic circularity, enhancing community sustainability and resilience.What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (max. 200 words)We aim to test the assumption that there is a strong demand for accessible, hands-on circular construction education among industry professionals and students.During the CBI Booster, we will:Develop a prototype of the course, including pilot key modules, practical exercises, and case studies.Validate the curriculum with participants and industry experts to ensure relevance, value and learning success.Test different formats (e.g., submissions, group work, hybrid) to evaluate and optimize engagement and user feedback.Explore stakeholder collaborations across the construction value chain (e.g., companies, municipalities, material suppliers, circular initiatives and universities) for broader impact.By the end of the booster, we aim to deliver a tested and refined course prototype with a clear roadmap for scaling, alongside a strategy to attract participants and potential partners for future rollouts and a boarder transition towards circularity in the built environment.Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? (max. 100 words)While isolated workshops on circular construction have been run before, this will be the first comprehensive, multi-leveled and structured course targeting participants outside of established university structures in Switzerland. Feedback confirmed interest in hands-on learning but highlighted the need for a more systematic approach. The full course curriculum will be tested, whilst measuring its impact and student satisfaction over multiple sessions. The theoretical content delivery will be advanced through an expert course offered with materiuum / SIG / bilBau and further experts. This course will harmonize this knowledge and drive long-term environmental improvements and support systemic industry changes in Switzerland.Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? (max. 150 words)Roto Re-Use Bildung: Project lead and course coordination, expertise in material reuse and recovery.sanu future learning AG (Implementation Partner): Experts in environmental education and training, providing didactic development and support for participant outreach, promotion.Circular Construction Specialists: External experts e.g. baubüro in situ who will contribute to case studies.HSLU: Forschungsgruppe «Nachhaltiges Bauen und Erneuern» for user feedback and research dataEmpa / ETHZ: Access to seminar rooms and site tours. Support by Reallabor JuraparkbilBau, materiuum, cirkla, bafu and further collaborators are committed to the development of an advanced course for reuse implementation.Cirkla: Support, network access, certification standard and quality assuranceOur interdisciplinary team brings together the capacity to execute, iterate, adapt and translate impactful circularity throughout the Swiss construction sector. With the support of CBI experts, we can refine the course and maximize its impact.How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? (max. 100 words)We plan to secure the 10% co-funding through a combination of:Partnership contributions and sponsorships from forward-thinking industry stakeholders interested in promoting regional circular practices. Support from local sustainability foundations that align with the project’s environmental and educational goals.We’re already in discussions with potential backers and in-kind supporters like Basel Circular, who support and accelerate local circular education and its long-term environmental and economic benefits.

Project Idea Metadata

Project Idea Name: Introductory Reuse Course
Date: 4/7/2025 1:23:00 PM
Administrators:

Project Idea Description

What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? (max. 200 words)

The construction industry will require circular concepts to be embedded in future projects to reduce waste, CO₂ emissions, and raw material use. This hands-on course guides participants through the initial practical steps for the implementon of material reuse in future projects.

Participants will engage in on-site workshops and work directly with reclaimed materials during a 1.5-day program. Successful projects in Basel and Winterthur are introduced as case studies to exemplify circularity in the construction industry. This applied learning model equips participants with actionable skills, enabling them to deepen and refine circular principles directly into their work.

This course acts as a multiplicator of knowledge and scales networking opportunities. An additional expert course will be offered to deepen the theoretical understanding of circularity. By integrating diverse stakeholders across the construction value chain, the course promotes collaboration to rethink the educational landscape for future re-users towards circularity!

The primary beneficiaries include planners, construction professionals, recyclers, developers, companies and public institutions, who seek to adopt circular and sustainable strategies in their projects. The course helps to fundamentally scale circular practices across the construction sector and participants will be listed on the platform of cirkla for reuse experts with actionable skills.

How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (max. 100 words)

The course drives waste reduction, lowers CO₂ emissions, and reduces raw material extraction by equipping professionals with circular construction skills. By transmitting knowledge and implementation strategies, new job and market opportunities are created in deconstruction, material assessment and circular design. This course is assumed to multiply the level of applied circular implementation by the factor of 3 in Switzerland.

Long-term, this course supports resource-efficiency and economic prosperity by building a strong interdisciplinary network and helping the sector transition from linear to circular business models. It empowers individuals to contribute to systemic circularity, enhancing community sustainability and resilience.

What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (max. 200 words)

We aim to test the assumption that there is a strong demand for accessible, hands-on circular construction education among industry professionals and students.

During the CBI Booster, we will:

- Develop a prototype of the course, including pilot key modules, practical exercises, and case studies.
- Validate the curriculum with participants and industry experts to ensure relevance, value and learning success.
- Test different formats (e.g., submissions, group work, hybrid) to evaluate and optimize engagement and user feedback.
- Explore stakeholder collaborations across the construction value chain (e.g., companies, municipalities, material suppliers, circular initiatives and universities) for broader impact.

By the end of the booster, we aim to deliver a tested and refined course prototype with a clear roadmap for scaling, alongside a strategy to attract participants and potential partners for future rollouts and a boarder transition towards circularity in the built environment.

Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? (max. 100 words)

While isolated workshops on circular construction have been run before, this will be the first comprehensive, multi-leveled and structured course targeting participants outside of established university structures in Switzerland. Feedback confirmed interest in hands-on learning but highlighted the need for a more systematic approach.

The full course curriculum will be tested, whilst measuring its impact and student satisfaction over multiple sessions. The theoretical content delivery will be advanced through an expert course offered with materiuum / SIG / bilBau and further experts. This course will harmonize this knowledge and drive long-term environmental improvements and support systemic industry changes in Switzerland.

Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? (max. 150 words)
1. Roto Re-Use Bildung: Project lead and course coordination, expertise in material reuse and recovery.
2. sanu future learning AG (Implementation Partner): Experts in environmental education and training, providing didactic development and support for participant outreach, promotion.
3. Circular Construction Specialists: External experts e.g. baubüro in situ who will contribute to case studies.
4. HSLU: Forschungsgruppe «Nachhaltiges Bauen und Erneuern» for user feedback and research data
5. Empa / ETHZ: Access to seminar rooms and site tours. Support by Reallabor Jurapark
6. bilBau, materiuum, cirkla, bafu and further collaborators are committed to the development of an advanced course for reuse implementation.
7. Cirkla: Support, network access, certification standard and quality assurance

Our interdisciplinary team brings together the capacity to execute, iterate, adapt and translate impactful circularity throughout the Swiss construction sector. With the support of CBI experts, we can refine the course and maximize its impact.

How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? (max. 100 words)

We plan to secure the 10% co-funding through a combination of:

Partnership contributions and sponsorships from forward-thinking industry stakeholders interested in promoting regional circular practices.
Support from local sustainability foundations that align with the project’s environmental and educational goals.

We’re already in discussions with potential backers and in-kind supporters like Basel Circular, who support and accelerate local circular education and its long-term environmental and economic benefits.

The construction sector lacks accessible, handson education and practical knowledge on circularity, leading to a lot of waste, CO₂ emissions and raw material extraction. This course provides training and certification by cirkla to empower participants to overcome barriers for the implementation of reuse strategies in their own projects.