BOMA Canada

The Circular Economy Guide

for Commercial Real Estate

Closing
the Loop
This Guide is Sponsored by:
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The Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada, including all of its officers, Ben Welch– Manulife Investment Management
directors, employees, advisors, consultants, committee members, task force members,
agents, volunteers and members (hereinafter collectively referred to as “BOMA”)
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has assembled the material in this document for the purpose of conveying how
the circular economy might apply in commercial and institutional real estate. The
information presented is solely and without exception, express or implied, for that
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method or methods for implementing circular economy opportunities in in commercial Circular Innovation Council
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 Welcome to our Guide

This Guide will lay the groundwork for what it means to adopt circular economy
principles in commercial real estate. This guide will:

Introduce core definitions and Provide an overview of building Explore the potential for
concepts operations opportunities immediate impact

It represents the first of many BOMA Canada tools and resources that will investigate the numerous
opportunities that exist for building managers to participate in the circular economy. Stay tuned!

Table of Contents
Letter from the President 2

A Call to Action 3
What is a Circular Economy? 4

What are the Benefits of a Circular Economy for Buildings? 6

Putting Circular Economy Principles into Action 8

Next Steps for the Industry 9

Appendix A: Circular Self-Assessment and Areas of Opportunity 10

Appendix B: Glossary 16

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 1

We are proud to present the BOMA Canada
Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real
Estate – an important tool for property owners
and managers seeking to address pollution and
waste.
Thanks to the efforts of dedicated building management
teams, buildings are now more energy and water
efficient than ever, generating fewer carbon emissions
and promoting occupant health and wellbeing. However,
waste remains a persistent challenge. A Circular
Economy approach to property management and
building operations provides real solutions to this issue
while supporting a healthier and more regenerative
environment.
With this Guide, BOMA Canada recognizes the critical
role our industry can take in eliminating pollution,
reducing waste and building a more resilient economy.
By favouring practices that retain the value of a resource
throughout its entire life cycle, building managers and
owners can reduce their operating and maintenance
costs while delivering on their strategic sustainability
objectives.
Strategies outlined in this Guide will help BOMA members
understand and achieve the benefits of participating in a
circular economy. Tangible next steps can be identified by
taking the Circular Self-Assessment in the Appendix which
will help you identify future areas of opportunity.
We are excited about this next frontier for building
excellence and will be working closely with you, our
members, as we move forward to ensure that BOMA
Canada’s future resources continue to support transition
to a circular economy.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Shinewald
President & CEO,
BOMA Canada
2 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate
As engineers, doing more with
less is part of our DNA at
Dyson. We use a concept
called “lean engineering” to
inform our actions to reduce our impact
and that of our products. In our
pioneering technology, this means
engineering products that use fewer
resources, that are long lasting, high
performing and efficient. For example,
our hand dryers are engineered to help
business achieve their sustainability
goals and our lighting products are
highly efficient and long lasting. We are
introducing more challenging
serviceability requirements and
specifications into our products and
improving our repairability infrastructure
to recycle and reuse as many parts and
materials as possible. Across our own
offices and spaces, we prefer to restore
our old buildings around the world and
build pioneering low energy spaces that
celebrate good, sustainable engineering.
We are committed to reducing waste in
our offices and powering as many of our
sites as possible with renewable, clean
energy.
Tom Crawford,
Global Director of Sustainability at Dyson
 A Call to Action
Waste has long been considered an inevitable by-product
of the human consumption of goods and services as well
as an inescapable reality of modern life. As the volume
of waste generated grows every year, currently sitting
at 7-10 billion tonnes per annum, so to has general
awareness of the extent and importance of the issue1. The
need to shift our perspective on waste has never been
more critical.
While significant efforts have been taken to reduce the
amount of waste sent to landfill, this remains a significant
challenge due to the sheer complexity of the problem –
recycling abilities vary by municipality and the presence
of a post-consumer market for diverted materials is not
guaranteed.
Building owners and managers have recognized the
environmental, social, and economic benefits of reducing
the amount of waste being generated. They are seeking
solutions to achieve ambitious reduction targets by
questioning the very concept of waste, embracing a
concept called “Circular Economy”. Put simply, in a
circular economy, waste is not a by-product that must be
disposed at the end of its life but rather a resource that
continues to generate value. 2
Key stakeholders are also taking notice. Tenants
are beginning to work with building managers to
find responsible and innovative solutions to waste
management. Likewise, investors are increasingly looking
for solutions that support long term value creation. It is
becoming evident that awareness is growing on how to
improve the resource productivity of commercial real
estate while responding to market demand from varying
stakeholders with increasing levels of sophistication.
This BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide is a first step
in helping our member firms begin their journey towards
adopting circular economic practices in their assets. To
that end, BOMA will continue to work with the commercial
real estate industry, various levels of governments,
academics, and other key stakeholders to ensure that
this work is as meaningful as possible to accelerate the
transition towards a Circular Economy.

Adopting circular economy practices within building operations

and management can lead to the following benefits:

Reduction in Decrease in Engaged tenants Innovation and Mitigate exposure

operating costs procurement and and employees differentiation to risk
disposal costs

1 S2 Partnership Limited, 2017. Waste Not, Want Not in the Commercial Real Estate Sector
2 Idem.

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 3

What is a Circular Economy?
Even when we try to maximize the use of a given product,
it may still end up in a landfill. This can change if we start
to adopt the core principles of a circular economy. Also
referred to as “CE”, “circularity” or “circular thinking”, it
Did you know?
promotes an economic state where resources are kept Annual global waste production will
in a continuous cycle of use so resources are no longer increase by 70% if current conditions
extracted and existing products are reused or recycled, persist, according to the World Bank 5
avoiding the very need for final disposal. 3

A circular economy is based on three principles:

Circular economy contrasts with the existing “take-make-

waste” linear model which is associated with significant
consumption of materials, energy, and water.

The goal of a circular economy is to keep products

and materials in use for as long as possible. Products
are therefore designed to last, to be reused, repaired,
and remanufactured. The material components of the
product can be disassembled and re-introduced into the
Design out waste and pollution
production loop to become new products, reducing our
need for landfills. The value of the resource is therefore
retained during its entire life cycle, eliminating the very
concept of waste. This economic model favours the use of
renewable resources and does not depend on continuous
resource extraction.

The circular economy drives performance and innovation

by making greater use of its physical assets, all while
protecting the critical services provided by nature such as
Keep products and materials in use food and freshwater. 4

Regenerate natural systems

3 BRE, 2019. The circular economy – Under construction

4 Accenture, 2014. Circular Advantage: Innovative Business Models and Technologies to Create Value in a World without limits to Growth
5 The World Bank, 2018. Press Release: Global Waste to Grow by 70 Percent by 2050 Unless Urgent Action is Taken: World Bank Report

4 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate

 Did you know?
While recycling plays a role in CE, it is only one of
the processes that may be applied to a material.
Most materials decrease in value every time they are
recycled, leading to the concept of “downcycling”.
Eventually, the material or product will end up in a
landfill.

Repairing, upgrading, and remanufacturing are some

of the ways through which the value of the original
material can be continuously retained.

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 5

What are the Benefits of a Circular Economy for Buildings?

Circular economy, and the notion that we cannot continue to deplete resources indefinitely, is now at the forefront of
discussions for those who design and operate buildings. The benefits of designing out waste and keeping materials in
use are now more clearly understood. 6

Some of the benefits of a circular economy in real estate include:

1 Reduce operation and maintenance costs
Achieve savings by implementing circular
design principles during construction, extending
equipment life through preventative maintenance
and repair, and reduce disposal costs thanks to
supplier take-back models and repairability.
2 Deliver strategic sustainability objectives
4 Increase occupant health, comfort, and
performance
Selecting materials and products for use inside
the building that meet circular criteria will
improve indoor air quality such as by reducing the
concentration of pollutants in offices, leading to
improvements in workforce performance.

Integrating circularity into ongoing operations 5 Engagement opportunities with occupants

will support the organization’s achievement of The circular economy provides a new and exciting
UN Sustainability Development Goals, further framework to engage tenants and occupants to
reinforcing the organization’s environmental and consider new opportunities for creating positive
social commitments. impact.

3 Mitigate risk 6 Enhance innovation, long-term value, and

Selecting products that are made from recyclable
or renewable materials reduces the risks of
price volatility associated with extracting virgin
resources and minimizes the organization’s
associated carbon impact.
competitiveness
Integrating circular economy principles into overall
strategic direction will foster a culture of innovation
in the organization, highlighting its leadership in the
industry and helping to attract new investments,
tenants, and staff who share the same priorities.

A new generation of investors, tenants, and building owners and managers are highly aware of the environmental and
social costs of existing practices. Using a circular economy model will provide commercial real estate with a framework
for reaching ecological and social goals while simultaneously enhancing economic value.

6 Greengage Environmental, 2019. Putting Circular Economy Principles into Practice

6 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 7
Putting Circular Economy Principles into Action
What does circular economy mean for buildings? Since
building managers oversee all building operations,
they have considerable influence and are well placed to
integrate circular economy practices into their processes.
The following areas provide an opportunity for putting
circular economy principles into action: 7
Construction/Renovation/Retrofit
• Select building materials and components that are
made from recycled content; can be dissassembled;
returned for remanufacture
• Document materials used in construction including
recommended destination in a second life (a “material
passport”)
Utilities
• Reduce water consumption by using grey water or
rainwater in toilets & landscaping
• Optimize energy use through building automation
systems (sensors, metering, BAS, BIM)
• Integrate renewable energy technologies such as
combined PV and solar hot water, small-scale biodigestion
Building Operations, Repair, and Maintenance
• Select equipment made from materials with a low
environmental impact over the full lifecycle of the
building; are durable; are high efficiency
• Implement a preventative maintenance program to
prolong the life of materials & equipment
Waste Management
• Reduce waste creation by procuring materials that are
more durable; can be repaired; can be adapted to new uses
• Change procurement criteria to require vendor take-back
• Support reverse logistics to recover and return
materials to manufacturers
• Avoid material waste by procuring services instead of
products themselves (e.g. purchasing lighting instead of
the lamps themselves)
8 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate
Many of these areas of opportunity focus on the materials,
goods, or products used in the building. By emphasizing
maintenance and repair, and by selecting materials and
products that can have a useful end of life, it becomes
possible to minimize the amount of waste generated.
Food & Catering
• Select suppliers that use locally sourced ingredients; find
value from food and food waste (e.g. food banks, farms)
• Innovate with suppliers and tenants to offer waste free
service options
• Create centralized collection point for used take away
containers to return to retailer
Office Furniture & Supplies
• Select products and supplies that are durable; can
be repaired or refurbished; are modular and can
be re-configured; are designed for disassembly or
remanufacture
• Create opportunities for extending the life of furniture
through re-use such as by donation or sharing programs
Landscaping & Site
• Conserve habitat and biodiversity; restore native flora
and habitats
• Encourage food production on-site, also supporting
employee engagement and education
Occupant Experience and Engagement
• Provide occupants with opportunities to engage with
sharing economy such as by providing space for a tool
library; exchange spaces; repair cafes; car/bicycle sharing
• Create a collection point for certain materials such as
textiles, to be distributed to partner organizations for
re-use or re-manufacture
• Explore new lease agreements upon renewal or tenant
changes that align tenant and building manager’s
circularity objectives
 Next Steps for the Industry
There are many ways that building owners and managers
can benefit from implementing elements of a circular
economy. The areas of opportunity include:
• Circular Procurement: The process of purchasing
works, goods or services that keep resources within
the supply chain and avoid creating waste across the
product’s life cycle
• Optimize waste management: Working with suppliers to
enhance the availability of reliable waste management
data
• Buildings as a “materials bank”: Supporting
construction projects that select materials that are
modular or can be disassembled for re-use
Did you know?
Circular economy has the potential to deliver on the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United
Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Specifically, asset owners and managers can help move forward the following SDGs:
7 RICS, 2018. Circular economy: role of facilities manager
BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate
• Buildings as enablers & anchors: Facilitating the
creation of social value and equity by providing spaces
where occupants can engage in sharing and repairing
activities
• Buildings as regenerators: Supporting the restoration
of native flora and habitats around the building and
creating new forms of energy for the community (e.g.,
waste recovery processes, on-site renewables)
The circular economy provides significant opportunities
for creating long term value and reduce operating costs.
Building managers interested in starting the process are
invited to complete the circular building operations self-
assessment in Appendix A.
9
Appendix A:
Circular Self-Assessment and Areas of Opportunity
For each area of opportunity, identify existing strengths and consider future areas of opportunity.

Areas of Starting Point: Next Steps

Opportunity Existing Strengths

Building һ Equipment is selected for һ Procure equipment made with materials with low
operations, repair, maximum efficiency embodied emissions
and maintenance һ Procure equipment made with materials with low
environmental impact over lifecycle of building
һ Procure equipment that is durable and repairable
һ Equipment use generates no emissions (e.g., fuel switching)
һ Configure equipment to minimize waste of resources
(e.g., task lighting vs area lighting)
һ Develop procurement templates (e.g., RFP, SOW) that
incorporate elements of circular economy

Building һ Suppliers are selected һ Purchase products as services instead of standalone items
to minimize their impact
operations, repair, һ Select performance contracts to ensure efficiency
and maintenance across the supply chain
(e.g., avoid resource һ Select suppliers that support take back models
extraction and use of һ Develop procurement templates (e.g., RFP, SOW) that
harmful chemicals; fair incorporate elements of circular economy
labour practices)

Building һ A preventative һ Conduct ongoing improvements to building envelope

operations, repair, maintenance program
and maintenance has been implemented to
prolong life of materials/
equipment

Building һ Energy and water һ Provide and participate in training focused on

operations, repair, efficiency training is maximizing efficient use of technology
provided to building
and maintenance һ Provide and participate in training on understanding
operations staff
system efficiency (optimizing system based on
configuration and equipment selection)
һ Provide and participate in training on future trends
(smart buildings)

Building һ Paperless billing and/or һ Regularly review ongoing operational practices (e.g.,
operations, repair, monitoring (e.g., through work order details, contractual obligations) to ensure
and maintenance apps) is requested they meet best practices

10 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate

 Areas of Starting Point: Next Steps
Opportunity Existing Strengths

Utilities һ Energy use is optimized һ Purchase products as services instead of standalone items
through building automation
һ Select performance contracts to ensure efficiency
systems (e.g., sensors,
metering, BAS, BIM, etc.)

Utilities һ Potable water is used һ Implement grey water or rainwater collection and use
efficiently (e.g., toilets and landscaping)
һ Water-conserving
measures are
implemented (e.g.,
aerators, timers)

Utilities һ Low carbon energy һ Integrate renewable energy technologies such as

sources are selected / A combined photovoltaic and solar hot water, small-scale
switch has been made to bio-digestion, and electricity storage via batteries for
cleaner fuel types (e.g., emergency back-up power
natural gas to renewably
һ Purchase green energy through power purchase agreements
generated electricity)

Utilities һ Active heat recovery һ Include the financial impacts of potential carbon
strategies are implemented reductions into the evaluation and analysis of new
(e.g., ventilation air heat energy efficiency projects
recovery, wastewater
heat recovery, heat pump
systems)

Construction/ һ Building materials һ Draft SOWs that require that materials and components:
are selected for their
Renovation/ һ Can be repurposed
Retrofit environmental properties
һ Can be returned for remanufacture into the same or
a different product (e.g., drywall)
һ Are designed for disassembly
һ Are made using bio-based materials or bio-mass
waste products (e.g., sawdust)
һ Are made from recycled content (e.g., steel, gypsum)

Construction/ һ Management program һ Document materials used in construction, including their

Renovation/ has been developed to recommended destination in a second life (a “material
Retrofit minimize construction, passport”)
renovation, and demolition
waste being sent to landfill

Construction/ һ Environmental renovation/ һ Design buildings and space to be able to flex with
Renovation/ fit-up criteria are included demand, modifying the space to fit different needs
Retrofit in green leases (commercial, residential, education)

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 11

Appendix A (cont’d)

Areas of Starting Point: Next Steps

Opportunity Existing Strengths

Food and catering һ Suppliers are selected һ Select suppliers that:

who demonstrate
һ Use regenerative food growing methods
commitment to
sustainability һ Use locally sourced ingredients
һ Prevent avoidable food waste
һ Find value from food and food waste, such as
through partnerships with local food banks, farms.
һ Avoid material waste (e.g., packaging)

Food and catering һ Retailers are engaged һ Innovate with suppliers and tenants to offer waste free
in an environmental service options
procurement program
һ Create centralized collection point for used take away
containers to return to retailer
һ Collaborate with food retailers to source recyclable and
municipally compostable cutlery/plates

Waste һ Initiatives are һ Select products that

implemented to decrease
management һ Are more durable
the amount of waste
generated һ Can be repaired
һ Can be adapted to new uses
һ Can be remanufactured or refurbished
һ Procure services instead of products themselves (e.g.,
purchasing lighting instead of the lamps themselves).
һ Develop waste reduction and education programs on the
importance of valuing materials throughout their entire
lifecycle

Waste һ Waste diversion programs һ Change procurement criteria to require vendor take-back
are implemented
management һ Select suppliers that support reverse logistics to recover
and return materials to manufacturers
һ Identify partners who can use certain waste streams as
their inputs
һ Use local digestors and other clean technologies that
capture the value of organic waste streams, such as bio-
digestion, heat recovery, mineral extraction and compost
for on-site food production or general soil amendment.

12 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate

 Areas of Starting Point: Next Steps
Opportunity Existing Strengths

Waste һ Final disposition / һ Improve data collection (e.g., waste types, amounts,
management destination of all materials meters) to inform public policy/initiatives and calculate
leaving the building is GHG avoidance
identified
һ Work with waste haulers to improve data transparency
or add weight reporting requirements to contracts
һ Collaborate with other building managers to provide
consistency to waste haulers

Office furniture һ A green / sustainable һ Select products and supplies that:

procurement program is
and supplies һ Are durable
implemented
һ Can be repaired or refurbished
һ Are modular and can be re-configured
һ Are designed for disassembly or remanufacture
һ Use materials efficiently
һ Are created using 100% recycled content (e.g., paper
products)
һ Hold a third-party certification for disassembly
һ Select furniture/supply leasing services
һ Request that products arrive in minimal packaging that
can be recycled or reused
һ Collaborate with other building managers to share items
between buildings or spaces, and/or to purchase in bulk
to reduce packaging and emissions from shipping

Office furniture һ Re-furbished furniture and һ Create opportunities for extending the life of furniture
and supplies supplies are selected and through re-use such as by donation, sharing, or re-
preferred selling programs

Office furniture һ Maintain warranty һ Take advantage of product repair, disassembly, and
and supplies documents for furniture takeback services instead of outright disposal
һ For modular items, repair or replace just the parts that
require it

Landscaping and һ Landscaping practices that һ Conserve or restore native flora

support ecosystem health
Site һ Prevent soil erosion
are implemented
һ Select landscaping products that do not contain any
harmful chemicals
һ Design landscaped areas to require little or no irrigation
(e.g., xeriscaping)

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 13

Appendix A (cont’d)

Areas of Starting Point: Next Steps

Opportunity Existing Strengths

Landscaping and һ Biodiversity and ecological һ Encourage food production on-site, supporting employee
Site resilience are supported engagement, education, and mental health

Occupant һ Occupants are engaged in һ Provide occupants with opportunities to engage with sharing
experience and waste diversion initiatives economy such as by providing space for a tool library,
engagement exchange spaces, repair cafes, car/bicycle sharing
һ Create a collection point for certain materials such as
textiles, to be distributed to partner organizations for
reuse or remanufacture

Occupant һ Occupants align with һ Align occupants with circular objectives

building’s environmental
experience and һ Allow occupants to participate in decision-making
engagement criteria through lease
agreements һ Support/select retailers/tenants with aligned CE
business models such as stores that sell products made
from recycled content, reusing materials, valorizing food
waste

Information һ A sustainable һ Select products and supplies that:

procurement program for
Communication һ Are durable
Technology (ICT) ICT is implemented
һ Can be repaired or refurbished
һ Can be upgraded with new components
һ Are designed for disassembly or remanufacture
һ Use materials efficiently
һ Are created using a minimum percentage of recycled
content (e.g., plastics and metal alloys)
һ Hold a third-party certification or ecolabel (e.g., EPEAT)
һ Are energy efficient
һ Have a low carbon footprint
һ Reduce the use of hazardous substances

Information һ Suppliers that offer repair һ Select suppliers based on transparency of supply chain
Communication and refurbishment are for:
selected and preferred
Technology (ICT) һ Environmental impact of operations (material
extraction, manufacturing)
һ Labor and human rights records/commitments
һ Select suppliers that support reverse logistics and
include end-of-life management in the contract

14 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate

 Areas of Starting Point:
Opportunity Existing Strengths
Cleaning һ Green cleaning program
with third-party certified
products and supplies is
implemented
Cleaning һ Training is provided to
janitorial staff on the
benefits of using specific
equipment / supplies
as per recommended
specifications
Fleet һ Low-carbon transportation
options (e.g., electric
vehicles) are supported
and encouraged
BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate
Next Steps
һ Select products and supplies that:
һ Are made from non-toxic ingredients
һ Hold third-party certifications
һ Have minimal packaging or 100% recyclable
packaging
һ Use materials efficiently
һ Select cleaning equipment that:
һ Are durable
һ Can be repaired or refurbished
һ Are designed for disassembly or remanufacture
һ Use materials efficiently
һ Are created using recycled content
һ Develop a program focused on continuous improvement
where specific custodial staff are tasked with testing out
new environmentally friendly technologies and products,
subsequently sharing their experiences to increase their
adoption
һ Support and encourage subscription models to sharing
services for bicycles or cars (e.g., through subsidy)
һ Offer staff membership to sharing services
һ Develop partnerships with and offer resources to (space,
electricity access, internet connection) organizations and
businesses that offer low-carbon transportation options
(e.g., charging stations for electric bicycles, dedicated
parking spaces for car-sharing)
15
Appendix B:
Glossary

Circular economy:
Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine
growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the
consumption of finite resources, and designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable
energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital. It is based on three principles:
1) Design out waste and pollution; 2) Keep products and materials in use; 3) Regenerate natural systems.8

Design for disassembly:

Design principle that calls for the end-of-life options of how the product, components and materials can be
deconstructed.9

Design for repairability:

Design principle that calls for products to be manufactured using fasteners, materials and processes that allow
them to be easily be fixed.10

Downcycling:
Turning materials from one or more used products into a new product with lower quality.11

Reuse/Redistribute:
Technical products and materials can also be reused multiple times and redistributed to new users in their original
form or with little enhancement or change. Marketplaces such as eBay are proof of this already well-established
approach.12

Refurbish/Remanufacture:
Remanufacturing and refurbishment are two similar, yet slightly different, processes of restoring value to a product.
When a product is remanufactured it is disassembled to the component level and rebuilt (replacing components
where necessary) to as-new condition with the same warranty as a new product. Refurbishment is largely a cosmetic
process whereby a product is repaired as much as possible, usually without disassembly and the replacement of
components.13

8 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017. Circular Economy Concept

9 Circular Economy Practitioner Guide, 2018. Glossary
10 Idem.
11 Forum for the Future. Circular Business Models
12 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017. The Circular Economy in Detail
13 Idem.

16 BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate

 Recycle:
Recycling is the process of reducing a product all the way back to its basic material level, thereby allowing those
materials (or a portion of them at least) to be remade into new products. While this is undoubtedly and important
process in a circular economy, the loss of embedded labour and energy, the necessary costs to remake products
entirely, and the inevitable material losses mean that it is a lower value process than those closer to the centre of
the system diagram, such as reuse and remanufacturing.14

Regenerative Design:
A whole systems approach to creating solutions that offer back more than is taken in their creation by exploring the
way natural systems solve problems and creating things that are interconnected with natural systems.15

Renewable materials:
Materials that are replenished at a rate equal to or greater than the rate of depletion. Renewable materials include,
for example, cotton, hemp, maize, wood, wool, leather, agricultural by-products, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and sea
salt. To be renewable such materials (where relevant) must be produced using regenerative practices or, in a
transition phase, using sustainable practices.16

Service:
A service is something a company provides, and the customer pays for, but there is no transfer of material
ownership. A service cannot be transported or stored and only exists while the provider is supplying it and the
customer is using it. For example, refurbishing is a service. There are three types, dependent on whether there are
material flows, and who owns them:
1) Services with material flows, where your business owns the materials (e.g., a company that owns and leases
furniture); 2) Services with material flows, where your business doesn’t own the materials (e.g., a company that
services IT hardware owned by others); 3) Services without material flows (e.g., consultancy).17

Sharing model:
Business model based on the sharing of under-used assets as a service.18

Waste:
Unwanted materials or substances. In a circular economy, waste is designed out.

14 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017. The Circular Economy in Detail

15 Leyla Acaroglu, 2018. Quick Guide to Circular Economy Business Strategies
16 Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Circulytics Definitions List
17 Idem.
18 Circular Economy Practitioner Guide, 2018. Glossary

BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide for Commercial Real Estate 17

 Closing the Loop

For further information about the guide,

please contact:
BOMA Canada
1 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Ontario, Canada M5G 1Z3
info@bomacanada.ca

May 2021

Ce rapport est disponible en français.

BOMA Canada
www.bomacanada.ca