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Project Dates

Start: 2016

The Story

BauKarussell has evolved from developing the concept of Social Urban Mining into becoming a driving force in establishing circular deconstruction methods as a viable business practice. Today, BauKarussel operates as a cooperative; uniting forces from the construction sector, social economy and resource management.

The concept of Social Urban Mining is based on the value creation of the potential of buildings scheduled for refurbishment or demolition. The dismantling phase is optimised through the removal and distribution of reusable components and the provision of separated waste fractions for material recycling. This conserves resources and benefits the climate, while generating additional value. The work is carried out nationwide by local socioeconomic partner companies and are documented in terms of achieved outcomes. The employment and vocational training of people facing disadvantages on the labour market provide a social benefit.

On this premise, BauKarussell operates at the intersection of planning and consulting, selective disassembly, material logistics and social inclusion. We continuously develop tools like pre-demolition audits and component catalogues, which aid us in establishing reuse as a common practice. By embedding these strategies into early project phases ahead of demolition, we enable the recovery of resources and their reintegration into newly planned projects. 

Through the expertise gained in individual projects merged with the continuing development of the concepts’ market capability, BauKarussell is helping to shift circular construction from an experimental niche towards becoming an integrated standard in the building industry.

Success Factor | Hero Moment

The transition into a cooperative was crucial to BauKarussell, as it transformed a loosely structured feat into a formal organisation.This was accompanied by a spirit of new beginnings, along with the recognition that its goals could only be achieved through joint efforts. Uniting abilites from various industries, the cooperative built a framework for slowly establishing circular processes as a standard. As of end of 2025, 1.960 tons of material were relocated (manually disassembled and prepared for reuse or environmentally adequate disposal) and 25.000 products assigned to reuse – thereby extending product life cycles and reducing waste.

On a smaller scale, the team has observed throughout the years that the social impact of Social Urban Mining created real and tangible benefits in the lives of long-term unemployed workers. Seeing individuals gain skills and confidence through direct involvement was a confirmation that the team’s work did in fact create a lasting impact in the lives of the people involved. By end of 2025, 270 people were supported in re-entering the labour market. 

Submitter

BauKarussell e.Gen.