Material Circularity and Life-Cycle Credits in Selected BREEAM- and LEED-Certified Office Buildings in Poland
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The transition towards a circular economy in the construction sector necessitates the systematic implementation of life-cycle assessment (LCA) and circular design principles. In Poland, regulatory frameworks and market incentives supporting material circularity and whole-building life-cycle assessment have only recently begun to emerge. These issues are primarily promoted through multi-criteria certifications. This study describes and compares the uptake of selected material-related credits of multi-criteria building certification schemes, specifically BREEAM and LEED over the years 2011–2023. From a theoretical frame of 300 certified buildings meeting the selection criteria, 19 cases were purposively selected for comparative analysis based on access to comprehensive, confidential certification data provided by a single architectural practice, APA Wojciechowski sp. z o.o. The assessment examined certification credits related to material category, such as material efficiency, LCA, material circularity, component reuse, recyclability, and responsible sourcing. The findings indicate that, while both systems are designed to address building sustainability, the analyzed cases demonstrated a low uptake of direct circular design strategies. Despite available credits for component and material reuse, none of the analyzed LEED-certified buildings obtained them. Similarly, BREEAM-certified buildings attained only 1–3 points out of a possible 13 in BREEAM Europe Commercial 2009 and 3 points out of possible 11 in BREEAM International 2013 and 2016 in the materials category. No credits were awarded for structural reuse, façade reuse, or responsible material sourcing. While the newer BREEAM 2013 and BREEAM 2016 cases achieved two out of six and two out of five possible points in the Mat 01 category through elemental or partial material assessments, the sample demonstrated a complete absence of full whole-building life-cycle assessment. Ultimately, the analysis reveals that historically, in the past decade, the uptake of advanced life-cycle and material circularity credits within this sample remained limited.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su182111440
Institution: Warsaw University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7225609490