Recycling in Building Construction: Practical Insights for the DECORATOR and BAUHALPS Projects
How Circular Construction Is Already Being Implemented in Bavaria Today
August 11, 2026
The event “Recycling in Building Construction,” held on July 15, 2026, in Munich, demonstrated how a circular economy can be implemented in the construction industry. The event was organized and hosted by our colleagues from the Energy division in collaboration with the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria. About 50 participants from the construction industry, planning, public administration, politics, and innovation discussed tried-and-true solutions and new approaches to resource-efficient construction practices. We were also there with the EU projects DECORATOR and BAUHALPS and gained valuable insights into current developments in circular construction.
During the forum, Bayern Innovativ presented the DECORATOR model and the project’s five pilot solutions. The model is based on the cradle-to-cradle principle and serves as a decision-making tool on the path toward a circular construction industry. A central element is the DECORATOR Canvas. It helps identify new partnerships, develop sustainable business models, and take a holistic view of a building’s entire life cycle—from planning and material selection to use and demolition.
The connection with RiBa proved particularly valuable: While DECORATOR addresses the systemic transformation of the construction industry, new forms of collaboration, and the integration of green and digital innovation, RiBa focused on concrete experiences with recycled building materials and circular construction methods. Practical examples from Eichstätt, Alberzell, and Haimhausen demonstrated that circular construction is already possible today.
At the same time, the discussions made it clear that legal uncertainties and complex permitting procedures remain among the biggest hurdles. An important takeaway from the discussion: Circular construction is not an “all-or-nothing” principle, but rather a step-by-step development process. Successful projects emerge when different stakeholders collaborate early on, share experiences, and boldly test new solutions. This insight is also described by the DECORATOR model , which highlights opportunities for collaboration.
The Stakeholder Forum thus made an important contribution to the dissemination and further development of the DECORATOR approaches. Further bilateral discussions with stakeholders from the construction and innovation ecosystem will follow up on the event.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria and also marked the conclusion of the Interreg project RiBa – Recycling in Use.
Learn more about the EU Interreg project BAUHALPS
DECORATOR promotes circular transformation in architecture and construction in the Danube region. The project brings together ecological, technological, sociocultural, and economic perspectives. BAUHALPS takes a similar approach in the Alpine region, integrating sustainable, technical, and aesthetic solutions with regional characteristics and the needs of local communities.
