DeCO2 at Sustainable Places 2025: Strengthening Circularity Through Collaboration

The DeCO2 project, represented by PwC, participated in two focused sessions at the Sustainable Places 2025 conference in Milan, a flagship event for European research and innovation in the built environment Our contributions emphasised circular construction and data-driven renovation, while highlighting the value of working across Horizon Europe projects.

“Supporting Circular Construction Through Data-Driven Solutions”, brought us together with DATAWiSE, INBLANC, WILSON, and  RECONMATIC​ projects. This panel focused on digital tools and intelligent systems that enable smarter renovation decisions and support circularity in practice. Challenges and barriers to digitalisation were discussed bridging the ongoing work within DeCO2 with the workshop key points.

In the session “From Waste to Worth: Circular Pathways for Decarbonising the Built Environment”, DeCO2 joined fellow EU projects, SIRCULAR, INBUILT, and RECONSTRUCT, to explore how circular economy principles can reduce embodied carbon and construction waste across Europe. The workshop concluded with participants joining three breakout groups focusing on  digital tools, circular practices and participatory processes. Technologies like AI and data platforms to support circular renovation were discussed along with  methods to recover and reuse materials from existing buildings. The third group discussed approaches and methodologies to involve users and communities in renovation.

This opportunity to liaise and discuss with peer projects sparked ideas for future collaboration; Sustainable Places continues to be an inspiring platform for fostering synergies among Horizon Europe initiatives, sharing knowledge and building partnerships. Events like this help strengthen efforts toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient future. DeCO2 stays committed to working openly, testing new ideas, and improving sustainable construction.