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Social Sustainability Screening for Responsible Scale-Up of a Recycled-Plastic Façade System

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Assessing the social implications of circular construction technologies before industrial implementation can inform scale-up decisions but is constrained by limited data and undefined stakeholder relationships. This study applies prospective social sustainability screening to a recycled-plastic ventilated façade renovation system at an early stage of development. The approach combines technical evidence classification, scenario calculations, and qualitative analysis of stakeholder opportunities, risks, and implementation conditions. Previous HotBox testing of a PET-shell panel with recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) filling provides preliminary thermal evidence, while the proposed complete assembly remains unvalidated. An illustrative production scenario of 1800 m2/month requires approximately 312.3 tonnes of HDPE annually and corresponds to €350,000/year in gross material-acquisition expenditure. The scenario identifies feedstock availability and manufacturing productivity as critical scale-up constraints. Qualitative findings identify potential opportunities for community participation, specialised work, and training, alongside risks of unequal access, occupational exposure, and transferred collection burdens. Material recovery is distinguished from avoided marine plastic leakage because counterfactual waste pathways remain unknown. The findings are exploratory: industrial operating data and primary stakeholder validation are unavailable, and technical performance, including fire safety, remains unresolved. The screening identifies priorities for sourcing, workforce development, and governance without establishing industrial feasibility, net job creation, verified waste diversion, or overall sustainability.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su182111217

Authors: Lucas Lopes, Manuela Almeida

Institution: University of Minho

Language: English

Topic: Sustainable Building Design and Assessment

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896