Perspective & Balance
When was the last time you drank a bottle of water or soda? How did you dispose of the empty bottle or can? We typically wouldn’t think twice about the menial task of throwing away trash. In fact, most of us relish the thought of never having to see or smell our dirty waste ever again. Our view must shift from self-interest to the reality that we coexist with billions of other people on Earth. We have all been tasked with finding a balance in utilizing the planet’s abundant yet finite resources.
Waste comes in many forms and ends up in a variety of locations. The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) asserts that 40% of the world’s waste ultimately ends up in dumpsites.1 This may not account for the lack of waste data from developing countries.2 While dumpsites generate 8-10% of manmade greenhouse gases, they also pose health threats, contaminate water, replace natural habitats, and bring imbalance and destruction to ecosystems.3 Waste is inevitable; however, we’re in control of the carbon footprint it leaves on the planet.
Construction-related activities and processes largely contribute to our global carbon footprint.4 As such, it is imperative to refine methods for construction waste disposal and promote innovation for greener processes. Industry workers and professionals must collectively develop a sustainability mindset and advocate for change to achieve this agenda.
Growing Pains
As a foundation for having a sustainability mindset, we must first understand our dynamic carbon footprint. The construction industry leads in generating waste, as construction and demolition (C&D) waste accounts for 30-40% of global solid waste production.5 In addition, C&D activities contribute to nearly 50% of greenhouse gas emissions.6 Figure 1 is based on Petrović’s compiled overview of construction and demolition (C&D) waste statistics across various first-world countries.
As shown above, waste generation rates have rapidly increased worldwide as societies have continued to develop.8 To mitigate suffering from growing pains, it is imperative to continue monitoring and refining methods of addressing C&D waste, especially as we strive to achieve a healthy balance between our consumption patterns and the environment.
Naturally, activities within the industry have varying weighted contributions to the generation of C&D waste. Figure 2 is derived from Salehi’s survey-based study regarding construction waste stages.
These results emphasize the importance of forethought in maintaining sustainable practices. Interestingly, the category “external factors” largely includes circumstances that are outside of the direct control of construction industry professionals. One of these factors is the lack of legislative enforcement.10 Oftentimes, those involved in the industry are inclined to bid and execute projects based on public regulations. Thus, it is crucial to get and stay involved in the community and voice relevant expertise with powerful stakeholders who may not be so informed on industry practices.
As the industry continues to grow, we must account for the increasing impact of our carbon footprint. Innovation in sustainable practices has helped immensely in mitigating the environmental effects of construction activities. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from industry pioneers who have either been around or recently emerged.
Bottles to Bricks
One pioneering Taiwanese company called Miniwiz has boldly declared its mission to “change consumer behavior into a circular one.”11 This company has dedicated its efforts toward converting lackluster trash into high-quality material that is desirable to consumers. The picture below elegantly displays the EcoARK, which is built almost entirely out of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. This is the world’s first fully functional, large-scale plastic building.12
Commenting on the viability of the process of converting waste, Miniwiz CEO Arthur Huang stated, “We are using technology to find a way to produce at half the price, twice as good.”13 Through innovation, Miniwiz has discovered a way to both save the environment and triumph over the pressures of financial costs and customer satisfaction.
Mass timber structures follow the same idea of circular consumption. In 2020, Japan announced that the W350 project would be completed in 2041 and would be the tallest skyscraper in Tokyo.14 Although the record-breaking building will be 90% timber, Harada states that the wooden building “could be an effective means to restore the circulation of crumbling forests” and “revitalize the urban environment in Japan and the world.”15 Various circular cycles have been outlined for replenishing wood resources. While promoting carbon sequestration, the material for the building may eventually be repurposed for smaller structures, power generation, and more.16
The EcoARK and W350 projects show us the planet-saving and business-changing potential of innovation. Bringing these innovations to life, however, comes with challenges. Persuading stakeholders to adopt new ideas is difficult, and oftentimes, much patience and trust are required.17
Ultimately, innovation is more than just something as flashy and tangible as turning bottles into high-quality bricks. It may also include advocating for new legislative laws promoting sustainable practices. In any case, we should strive to align our advocacy agenda with our skills and interests to overcome challenges. Recycling bottles and other waste into construction material is merely a means to an end; it’s all about building a global community for sustainability.
The Future Demands Sustainability
In building a global community, Bradley Little from WeWork discusses how sustainable business practices are a smart investment. Many companies have adopted the concept of corporate sustainability, where the company can meet its present needs while striving to preserve the planet.18 Many global companies have shifted to meet the newfound desirability for sustainable practices among workers and consumers and believe that mitigating their carbon footprint offers long-term financial gain.19 As a pioneer, The people of Miniwiz have broadened their vision beyond the construction industry to become “magicians of trash,” as they turn milk packaging into trendy sportswear and cigarette butts into furniture.20
The International Solid Waste Association supports its motive for closing dumpsites by asserting that resolving waste management problems is one of the best ways to advance the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.21 In 2015, over 178 countries adopted a global agenda for achieving 17 different goals in 2030.22 These goals fall under the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability.23 In following ISWA’s lead, we can help promote universal peace and equality by sustaining the 17 universal sustainable development goals.
The concept of “bottles to bricks” is more than just turning useless waste into luxurious building material. It is about broadening our perspective, using various means to achieve a balance between the planet’s resources and our needs, and ultimately ensuring a bright future. We are in control of our manmade carbon footprint. Next time you go to throw away a bottle, consider how you could become a sustainability pioneer in the cause of “bottles to bricks.”
Notes
1. International Solid Waste Association. “Closing the World’s Biggest Dumpsites Task Force.” Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.iswa.org/closing-the-worlds[1]biggest-dumpsites-task-force/?v=7516fd43adaa
2. Emina K. Petrović and Caroline A. Thomas. “Global Patterns in Construction and Demolition Waste (C&DW) Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOSviewer.” Sustainability 16, no. 4 (2024): 1561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041561
3. ISWA. “Closing the World’s Dumpsites.”
4. Petrović. “Global Patterns in C&D.” 1561.
5. ISWA. “Closing the World’s Dumpsites.”
6. ISWA. “Closing the World’s Dumpsites.”
7. Petrović and Thomas. “Global Patterns in C&D.” 1561.
8. ISWA. “Closing the World’s Dumpsites.”
9. Mitra Salehi. “Sustainable Construction: The Stages and Causes Affecting Construction and Demolition Waste.” IEEE Engineering Management Review 52, no. 1 (2024): 248-257. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMR.2023.3320788
10. Salehi. “Stages Affecting C&D Waste.” 248-257.
11. Miniwiz. "Miniwiz ⼩智研發.” Accessed March 4, 2025. https://www.miniwiz.com
12. Miniwiz. “Miniwiz ⼩智研發.”
13. Lillygol Sedaghat. "These Taiwanese Companies Are Turning Waste into Building Materials." Time, November 4, 2024. https://time.com/7172075/waste[1]construction-taiwan/
14. Hiroaki Harada, Takashi Fukushima, Tatsuya Hatori, and Hajime Aoyagi. “W350 – The Roadmap of Super High-Rise Timber Building.” International Journal of High-Rise Buildings 9, no. 3 (2020): 255-260. https://doi.org/10.21022/IJHRB.2020.9.3.255
15. Harada. “W350 High-Rise Timber Building.” 255-260.
16. Harada. “W350 High-Rise Timber Building.” 255-260. 5 Araki: Bottles to Bricks Published by BYU ScholarsArchive,
17. Sedaghat. “Waste into Building Materials.”
18. Bradley Little. "What Companies Are Doing to Become More Sustainable." WeWork, April 21, 2022. https://www.wework.com/ideas/research[1]insights/research-studies/what-companies-are-doing-to-become-more[1]sustainable
19. Little. “Companies Becoming More Sustainable.”
20. Miniwiz. “Miniwiz ⼩智研發.”
21. ISWA. “Closing the World’s Dumpsites.”
22. United Nations. " The 17 Goals.” United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Accessed March 4, 2025. https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
23. United Nations. " The 17 Goals.”