Exploring the circular economy challenges of the new Spotify Camp Nou at the latest Molins Talks session

How can circular economy principles be applied to a construction project on the scale of the new Spotify Camp Nou?

This was the central question at the second session of Molins Talks: Present and Future of Architecture, a series of conversations we are hosting as part of Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture, where we are an official partner. Through this initiative, we aim to contribute to the discussion on how architecture, construction, innovation and sustainability can help shape our cities.

The session brought together Jordi Portabella, Director of Sustainability at FC Barcelona; Lluís Moya, Head of the Espai Barça Technical Office; and Pilar López, our Circular Economy Director. Moderated by Adela Martínez, our Director of Corporate Affairs and External Communications, the discussion explored how sustainability has been embedded in the project from the outset, the challenges of recovering and reusing materials, and the potential to apply these solutions to other construction projects.

Recovering and reusing more than 100,000 tonnes of materials

One of the most significant examples of the circular economy at the new Spotify Camp Nou is the recovery of materials from the former stadium. At the site of the former Miniestadi, we have recovered and processed more than 100,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste, turning it into new construction materials.

To achieve this, waste from the demolition of the stadium’s third tier is crushed, sorted and processed using technologies that separate materials that cannot be reused and produce high-quality recycled aggregates. Before being reused, these materials must meet the technical requirements for their intended applications. We then incorporate them into structural and non-structural concrete, fill and granular layers, and excavation mortar.

In terms of scale, this is the largest construction and demolition waste (CDW) recovery and reuse project we have carried out in Spain, and one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

During the session, Jordi Portabella highlighted the importance of integrating sustainability from the very beginning of the stadium’s transformation. FC Barcelona’s commitment to recovering and making use of materials from the former stadium has been instrumental in advancing this approach. Lluís Moya, meanwhile, emphasised the connection between the old and new stadiums: some of the original materials are being incorporated into the new construction, giving a second life to elements that form part of the Club’s history.

Ensuring the quality of recycled materials

One of the project’s main technical challenges has been ensuring that materials from the demolition can be reused while meeting the required quality and safety standards. This involves more than simply crushing the old concrete. The resulting materials must be properly processed and tested to ensure they meet the requirements of each application.

The results show that recycled materials can be incorporated into a project of this scale without compromising technical performance. Recycled aggregates are used in 98% of the concrete mixes used in the project. In structural concrete, we have replaced 20% of the coarse aggregate with recycled material, while in non-structural concrete the proportion reaches up to 100%. We also use recycled fine aggregates and sand in mortars.

This approach is complemented by the use of cement from our Susterra range, which reduces CO₂ emissions from the concrete used by 25%, according to the corresponding Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). By combining waste recovery and the reuse of materials on site with lower-carbon material solutions, we help reduce the carbon footprint of construction.

Much of this process also takes place on FC Barcelona’s own grounds. Having a waste recovery plant close to the construction site and producing concrete on site allows us to use the recovered aggregates directly, streamline logistics and reduce the transport journeys required to move materials.

A model that can be applied to other construction projects

One of the key lessons from this project is that circular economy principles need to be considered from the earliest stages of construction. Planning how materials will be separated and processed, what requirements they must meet and where they can be reused helps identify opportunities for recovery from the outset.

Applying this approach to other projects also depends on collaboration between teams and the commitment of the project owner. Not every construction site has the scale or facilities of the new Spotify Camp Nou, but the same principles can still be applied: identify the available materials, process them appropriately, ensure they meet the required standards and find new ways to incorporate them into construction.

Through this project, we have brought material recovery and reuse to an exceptional scale and gained experience that can help these practices become more widespread across the construction sector. It is an example of our purpose in action: driving social development and improving people’s quality of life by creating innovative and sustainable construction solutions. It also continues the conversation about the present and future of architecture that we foster through Molins Talks.

Image: from left to right, Lluís Moya, Head of the Espai Barça Technical Office; Adela Martínez, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Communications at Molins; Pilar López, Circular Economy Director at Molins; and Jordi Portabella, Director of Sustainability at FC Barcelona.