Lisbon is pioneering circular construction by blending heritage with innovation to create a sustainable urban future. Through Circular Construction Hubs, the city aims at cutting waste, emissions, and costs, turning old buildings and materials into new opportunities while reshaping how Europe builds.

As Europe’s second-oldest capital, Lisbon is blending heritage with innovation to become a leader in circular construction. With nearly 56,000 residential buildings and a growing demand for housing and urban regeneration, the city is embedding circularity into its transformation efforts. By rethinking how construction materials are used, stored, and repurposed, Lisbon is unlocking new social, economic, and environmental value.

At the heart of this effort are Circular Construction Hubs (CCH), hybrid systems that merge a physical material bank with a digital marketplace. The approach aims to reduce construction and demolition waste while cutting material costs and emissions. Tested by the city´s energy and environment agency Lisboa E-Nova within GEBALIS’ public housing stock, the hub will operate through a decentralised model using a network of connected sites, crucial in a city with limited space.

National policies like mandatory BIM by 2030 and green procurement criteria support Lisbon’s shift toward circularity. The approach is not only addressing technical and spatial barriers but also helping build confidence in reused materials among builders and developers.

ICLEI Europe is partnering with its Member cities Lisbon and Munich as well as a diverse consortium of experts in circular construction, business and finance, social sciences, and digital innovation through the CirCoFin project. Together, they aim to accelerate the circular transformation of the construction sector across Europe. More information is available on the project website including a 2-minute video introdcution to the Circular Construction Hubs approach in practice.