The Waste Framework Directive identified a target for recycling of construction and demolition waste (CDW): by 2020, at least 70% of CDW should be recovered in some ways, so as to avoid its disposal in landfills. The majority of Member States already met this target. However, they did so by following what we call the "linear value chain".

In the linear value chain, CDW is mainly directed towards backfilling activities, mostly in road construction.

This leads to a loss of potential value of sands and aggregates. Instead, CDW could be used as secondary raw material in the production of new concrete and cement mixes.