The document discusses establishing new relationships and sustainable business models in construction and real estate through a "cradle-to-cradle" approach. This involves separating base buildings from fit-outs so resources can be reused, and dividing ownership between users and investors to address the "split incentive" problem. A new study aims to define these concepts legally and fiscally, propose new principles and contracts, and establish technical standards for a circular construction economy. It seeks €400,000 from public and private partners over two years to research new sustainable business models and economic concepts.

1.
NEW
RELATIONSHIPS
AND
SUSTAINABLE
BUSINESS
MODELS
IN
CONSTRUCTION
AND
REAL
ESTATE
The
present
way
we
handle
products
and
resources
in
construction
severely
hinders
the
growth
towards
a
circular
construction
economy.
Suppliers
and
producers
should
keep
control
over
the
products
and
resources
they
have
supplied,
even
after
those
have
been
processed
in
a
building.
Build
‘cradle-­‐to-­‐cradle’!
For
decades
Professor
Michael
Braungart
and
architect
William
McDonough
have
been
advocating
such
a
cradle-­‐to-­‐cradle
approach,
also
in
construction.
For
this,
user
participation
and
a
separation
of
building
components
are
crucial.
After
all,
the
base
building
is
put
down
once
and
rarely
updated.
The
fit
outs
however,
are
regularly
rebuilt.
In
this
way
the
resources
stored
in
the
building
components
can
be
put
to
a
maximum
use.
They
are
free
for
re-­‐use
at
the
time
that
is
function-­‐
ally,
technically,
economically
and
environmentally
most
sensible.
Forestall
the
‘split
incentive’!
Furthermore,
the
'split
incentive'
precludes
maximum
efficiency
for
both
users
and
investors.
The
only
real
solution
to
this
problem
is
another
division
of
ownership
between
those
parties,
tailored
to
the
risks
they
run
and
the
lifecycle
of
the
building
components
involved.
Building
cradle-­‐to-­‐cradle
and
a
largely
eradicated
'split
incentive'
give
rise
to
a
circular
construction
and
resource
economy
that
allows
new
types
of
contracts,
such
as
performance
based
contracting.
This
provides
several
important
advantages.
• The
process
is
more
efficient
and
cheaper,
even
in
the
investment
phase.
• Building
requires
less
material
and
energy,
especially
when
renovating
or
restoring.
• The
residual
and
resource
value
of
each
building
component
increases.
• Manufacturers
of
construction
products
and
building
components
can
develop,
for
example,
leasing
concepts,
based
on
a
life-­‐time
warranty.
• Construction
products
and
resources
that
are
released
during
demolition
can
be
re-­‐used.
• Thus
arises
a
circular
construction
and
resource
economy
with
new
business
models
and
earnings.
• The
impact
on
the
environment
decreases
considerably.
• The
changed
relationship
between
the
building
owner
and
user
complements
the
economic
and
ecological
aspects
with
a
social
component.
Pagina
1

2.
Research
is
needed
Under
the
auspices
of
the
Dutch
Organization
for
Scientific
Research,
NWO,
the
study
´New
relations
and
sustainable
business
models
in
construction
and
real
estate´
is
launched
soon.
Its
aims
are:
1. to
generally
define
the
separation
of
base
building
and
fit
outs
in
legal
and
fiscal
terms;
2. to
formulate
proposals
for
new
and
updated
legal
and
fiscal
principles
and
instruments;
3. to
determine
the
consequences
for
government,
politics
and
business;
4. to
arrive
at
a
new
construction
and
real
estate
process
with
a
circular
construction
and
resource
economy
as
a
starting
point;
5. to
explore
new
economic
concepts
that
go
beyond
the
traditional
forms
of
ownership
and
tenancy
and
appoint
the
promising
contracts
possible
on
this
basis;
6. to
capture
the
new
construction
and
real
estate
process
in
technical
arrangements
and
to
summarize
these
in
a
new
standard
that
is
easy
to
manage
and
uphold.
Within
the
NWO
conditions,
a
university
research
team
will
conduct
the
research
in
conjunction
with
the
(central)
government
–
invested
there
because
of
the
legal
and
fiscal
primate
–
the
vocational-­‐oriented
higher
education
and
the
business
community.
It
is
a
sure
thing
the
business
community
will
benefit
from
the
new
sustainable
business
models
and
earnings.
Research
budget
The
total
budget
required
for
this
research
is
still
under
investigation,
but
it
is
estimated
at
€
400,000.00
At
least
€
100,000.00
needs
to
come
from
public
and
private
partners.
The
total
study
will
take
an
estimated
two
years.
We
expect
to
present
the
first
results
after
six
months.
The
benefits
for
sponsors
from
the
business
Private
real
estate
investors,
contractors
and
suppliers
to
construction
or
others
that
contribute
to
the
research
budget,
get
access
to
the
research
results
and
they
participate
in
the
elaboration
of
the
study.
In
doing
so
they
have
the
opportunity
to
influence
the
research
approach
and
formulate
their
own
research
questions.
With
the
answers
they
create
a
sustainable
advantage
over
their
competitors
for
sure.
Remko
Zuidema,
December
30,
2013.
Briqs
Foundation
P.O.
box
75657
1070
AR
Amsterdam
Telephone:
+31
206
780
780
Email
address:
office@briqs.org
Triodos
Bank:
NL70TRIO
0254571301
Trade
Register
Amsterdam:
54198399
VAT:
NL8512.12.931.B01
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2