This past weekend, our team completed comprehensive inspections of five promising deconstruction projects across New York City, spanning Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. These site visits represent a significant expansion of our sustainable building material recovery services into one of the nation’s most architecturally rich markets.
The transformation of construction and demolition waste streams into viable secondary material markets represents one of the most significant yet underachieved opportunities in sustainable development. Despite compelling environmental imperatives and theoretical frameworks supporting circular economy principles, the secondary market for building materials and decommissioned corporate property (furniture, fixtures, appliances, and related assets) continues to operate at only a fraction of its potential capacity.
The global green building materials market is on pace to nearly double, from $332.1 billion in 2024 to $708.9 billion by 2030. This represents a significant 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), placing it among the fastest-growing sectors within construction and real estate. The CAGR itself tells a powerful story: it indicates not just linear expansion, but a compounding acceleration of market demand year over year. At this pace, the sector is projected to add nearly $377 billion in new market value in just six years.
The housing market in the United States is navigating a difficult landscape. Existing home sales in June 2025 sank to their lowest level in nine months, declining by 2.7 percent to an annualized rate of 3.93 million units.
Antique barns remain one of the richest sources of high-quality reclaimed softwood and hardwood in North America.
Since the inception of The Green Mission Inc., Probity Appraisal and recently GM-ESG, I have had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional colleague and friend, Jennie Lumpkin. From the very beginning, Jennie has been an integral part of our organization’s growth and success, shaping our approach to client service, operational excellence, and industry leadership.
My recent visit to Madrid was built around a dual focus: studying architectural salvage traditions through the city’s premier museums and buildings, and understanding how Spain is embedding deconstruction and circularity into its building sector. The combination offers a compelling case study in how a city can value its past while engineering a lower-carbon, resource-conscious future.
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain, is one of the most complete surviving examples of Islamic architecture in Europe. During a recent visit, I studied the construction and decorative features of this palace complex to gain insight into the intentionality behind each element.
At The Green Mission and GM ESG Solutions, we believe that sustainable progress is driven by strong collaborations, shared vision, and boots-on-the-ground dedication.
During my recent meetings in Chicago for both MAS LLC, my tax consultancy, and The Green Mission Inc., our sustainability and valuation firm, I was reminded why the city and the broader Upper Midwest remain national leaders in the deconstruction and reuse movement. From forward- thinking policy to grassroots innovation, this region fosters one of the most engaged and thoughtful circular economies in the country. The partnerships I have developed here over the years continue to inspire me, as do the organizations and individuals leading this work.