Construction is one of the most resource intensive and wasteful sectors, presenting a lost economic opportunity. In Canada, approximately 3.4 million tonnes of construction waste is sent to landfill each year, containing an estimated 1.8 million tonnes of embodied CO₂e (NZWC, 2021). While operational emissions in the build environment sector are expected to decline, embodied carbon is projected to double over the next 25 years. Advancing circular strategies such as improving material efficiency, prioritizing reuse, and keeping products and materials in circulation longer, is essential for mitigating environmental and socio-economic issues across the built environment sector.
Join us for a dynamic, conversation-led session focused on turning circular economy ambition into concrete action across construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) materials.
Led by Andrew Telfer of Circular Innovation Council (CIC), this session brings together leading practitioners from Canada and abroad for an engaging discussion. This is not your typical webinar. Expect minimal slides, more dialogue, and practical insight grounded in experience.
We will explore how to move beyond theory and embed circular principles into projects, procurement, and policy. The discussion will highlight how municipalities can use procurement as an effective lever to create demand, build confidence in reused materials, and support market conditions for circularity at scale.
Through examples, lessons learned, and candid exchange, attendees will obtain a clearer understanding of how to accelerate CRD circularity in their own regions, from enabling systems to on-the-ground implementation.
Designed for municipal leaders, circular economy practitioners, and CRD stakeholders, this session intends to inform, challenge, and stimulate action.
This webinar is FREE for members of Circular Innovation Council.
If you’re unsure that your organization is already a member, or you are interested in becoming a member please contact Info@CircularInnovation.ca
Circular Innovation Council is a non-profit and registered charity, operating since 1978. Your membership and registration fees support our mandate to deliver resources and events that foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing to advance a more circular, resilient economy.
Andrew Telfer
Director, Circular Innovation Council
Andrew Telfer, currently a director with Circular Innovation Council, is one of Canada’s leading voices in sustainability and circular economy innovation. With nearly two decades of experience spanning government, retail, and non-profit sectors, he brings a strategic and results-driven approach to advancing circular systems and climate-aligned business practices.
Lauren Onstad
Sustainable Building & Deconstruction Lead
City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
At the City of Portland, Lauren Zimmermann Onstad develops policy recommendations that reduce the embodied carbon of construction activities, manages the first-in-the-nation Deconstruction Program, and collaborates with planners to promote adaptive reuse of buildings. She has brought many experiences to this role, including building or remodeling 10 houses (strawbale, SIPs, conventional) and leading as Practice Manager at Ankrom Moisan Architects. Her mission is to build a thriving low-carbon building materials economy.
Alex Reeves
Partner, Built Environment
Zero Waste Scotland
Alex is a chartered architect and Partner in the Built Environment team at Zero Waste Scotland. He is currently supporting the development of the Built Environment Sector Roadmap for Circularity – an intervention led programme advancing Scotland’s circular economy strategy. He is also part of the EU supported CirCoFin (Circular Construction Finance) project, which is exploring the economic viability of construction material reuse and developing tools to help municipalities build business cases for circular construction hubs.
Drawing on his architectural experience in Scotland and across the UK, Alex works with clients, designers, contractors, manufacturers, policymakers, public agencies, and industry bodies to support the transition to a more circular built environment.
Corey Pembleton
Advisor, Capacity Development – Green Municipal Fund
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Corey Pembleton is an Advisor at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, leading capacity building activities relating to circular economy, district energy systems, organic waste to energy, and sustainable municipal buildings. Alongside his colleagues at the Green Municipal Fund, Corey is currently operating the Accelerating Circular Construction Materials funding opportunity.
Katie Motta
Director, Circular Procurement
Circular Innovation Council
Our panel is here to answer your questions about circular construction. Send questions to Andrew@CircularInnovation.ca
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations and we humbly extend our respect to Indigenous individuals, communities and Elders, past and present, as the traditional custodians of this land.
Circular Innovation Council is a registered charity.
Charity Registration Number: 119112118 RR 0001
