Developments to come to a circular construction economy; experiences in facilitating a local soil and sand depot

Abstract In the construction industry the ambition to come to a circular economy will, with its vast material usage, be a hard nut to crack. This paper describes a research project part of the H2020 Cityloops project, in which it was expected that soil and sand depots could be an interesting subject to study. Already for many years and in multiple municipalities, these depots help to overcome mismatches regarding quality and quantity in demand and request of soil and sand. With the ambition to close material loops the construction industry might experience these kinds of mismatches also for an increasing number of other resources in the nearby future. Having positive experiences with her soil and sand depot, the municipality of Apeldoorn was open to give insights in the flows at her open-air soil and sand depot. The conducted research helped making processes transparent and valuable insights were gained. However, considering the great variety in building materials, products and components, it currently seems possible to handle only a small number of other material flows in the same way soil and sand are being handled and stored at a depot.

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Selection Criteria for Building Materials and Components in Line with the Circular Economy Principles in the Built Environment—A Review of Current Trends

Infrastructures ◽

10.3390/infrastructures6040049 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

Kamel Mohamed Rahla ◽

Ricardo Mateus ◽

Luís Bragança

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Value Chain ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Selection Criteria ◽

Building Materials ◽

Technical Aspect ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Industry Waste ◽

Current Trends

A growing concern is given to the environmental impacts caused by the construction industry. Waste generation, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions are the main drawbacks of the rapid urbanization that the world is witnessing. As a response to these pressing issues, policymakers and academia are exploring the concept of Circular Economy (CE) to manage resources better and achieve resource efficiency while eliminating waste. One of the strategies to implement CE in the built environment is to select the appropriate building materials and components from the early stages to carry out the concept's principles along the value chain and create a closed-loop system. Therefore, this study aims at identifying selection criteria for building elements according to CE principles through a review of the latest research. Results have shown that little has been concretely achieved in terms of a paradigm shift to CE since the main focus of the literature is still the use of recycled products and the recyclability of building materials and components at their end-of-life. Although the present study is solely focused on the technical aspect of building materials and components, it outlines current adopted criteria to bring about a circular built environment and highlights the need for a more innovative approach to attain higher circularity levels.

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Transitioning Business for a Circular Economy

Conference Proceedings of the Academy for Design Innovation Management ◽

10.33114/adim.2019.c05.137 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Susan EVANS

Keyword(s):

Professional Practice ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Radical Change ◽

Virtual Space ◽

Professional Experience ◽

Operational Model ◽

New Vision ◽

To Come ◽

Space Requirements

This case study explores the strategic business opportunities, for Lane Crawford, an iconic luxury department store, to transition in a circular economy towards sustainability. A new experimentation framework was developed and conducted among cross departmental employees, during a Design Lab, with intention to co-create novel Circular Economy business concepts towards a new vision: the later was a reframe of the old system based on the principles of sustainability; to move beyond a linear operational model towards a circular economy that can contribute to a regenerative society. This work draws on both academic and professional experience and was conducted through professional practice. It was found that innovative co-created concepts, output from the Design Lab, can create radical change in a circular economy that is holistically beneficial and financially viable; looking forward to extract greater value a)Internal organization requires remodeling to transform towards a circular economy; b)Requirement for more horizonal teams across departments vs solely vertical; c)New language and relationships are required to be able to transition towards a circular economy; d)Some form of physical and virtual space requirements, for cross-disciplinary teams to come together to co-create; e)Ability to iterate, learn and evolve requires agency across the business

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LATE AND NON-PAYMENTS ISSUES IN THE MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: PERSPECTIVE OF BUILDING MATERIAL SUPPLIERS

Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment ◽

10.24191/myse.v6i1.8674 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Mohd Fisal Ishak ◽

Kartina Alauddin ◽

Mohd Shahrol Hafiz Ibrahim

Keyword(s):

Construction Industry ◽

Cash Flow ◽

Financial Management ◽

Building Material ◽

Building Materials ◽

Management Team ◽

Flow Management ◽

Cash Flow Management ◽

Main Effect ◽

Klang Valley

Payment in the Malaysian construction industry has generally been an issue of concern. Late and non-payment problem is endemic in construction and needs to be addressed. The aim of this study is to investigate the issues related to late and non-payment based on the building materials suppliers’ perspective. Questionnaires were distributed to suppliers of building materials in the Klang Valley. Findings from the study shows the main cause of late and non-payment is the paymaster’s poor financial management while the main effect of late and non-payment is problem with the cash flow. The most recommended possible solution to cope with the issue is for the paymaster to conduct training on financial and cash flow management to the management team in the company.

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Circular economy in the construction sector: advancing environmental performance through systemic and holistic thinking

Environment Systems & Decisions ◽

10.1007/s10669-021-09803-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Magnus Sparrevik ◽

Luitzen de Boer ◽

Ottar Michelsen ◽

Christofer Skaar ◽

Haley Knudson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Building Materials ◽

Construction Sector ◽

Recursive Structure ◽

Effective Implementation ◽

Environmental Effectiveness ◽

Standards And Regulations ◽

Management Schemes ◽

Different Levels

AbstractThe construction sector is progressively becoming more circular by reducing waste, re-using building materials and adopting regenerative solutions for energy production and biodiversity protection. The implications of circularity on construction activities are complex and require the careful evaluation of impacts to select the appropriate path forward. Evaluations of circular solutions and their environmental effectiveness are often performed based on various types of life cycle-based impact assessments. This paper uses systemic thinking to map and evaluate different impact assessment methodologies and their implications for a shift to more circular solutions. The following systemic levels are used to group the methodologies: product (material life cycle declarations and building assessments), organisation (certification and management schemes) and system (policies, standards and regulations). The results confirm that circular economy is integrated at all levels. However, development and structure are not coordinated or governed unidirectionally, but rather occur simultaneously at different levels. This recursive structure is positive if the methods are applied in the correct context, thus providing both autonomy and cohesion in decision making. Methods at lower systemic levels may then improve production processes and stimulate the market to create circular and innovative building solutions, whereas methods at higher systemic levels can be used, for example, by real estate builders, trade organisations and governments to create incentives for circular development and innovation in a broader perspective. Use of the performance methods correctly within an actor network is therefore crucial for successful and effective implementation of circular economy in the construction sector.

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A LOOK INTO CIRCULAR ECONOMY RESEARCH: EXPLORING THE BIO AND TECHNO CYCLES AND THE NEED FOR DUAL CIRCULARITY

Proceedings of the Design Society ◽

10.1017/pds.2021.13 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 121-130

Author(s):

Julija Metic ◽

Tim C. McAloone ◽

Daniela C. A. Pigosso

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Biological Cycle ◽

Systematic Analysis ◽

Technological Cycle ◽

Business Perspective ◽

Subject Areas ◽

The Subject ◽

To Come

AbstractThis study undertakes a systematic analysis of literature within Circular Economy (CE) in an industrial perspective, with a focus on understanding the consideration of the biological and technological cycles, as well as dual circularity. The paper articulates the key research differences, gaps and trends on the basis of publication evolution, key subject areas, influential journals and keywords co-occurrence mapping. The analysis shows the increasing publication trend with dominance of technological cycle and a wide variety of subject areas incorporated in CE biological, technological and dual cycles. Due to the multidisciplinary and transversal nature of CE, as well as its diverse interpretation and applications, an expansion and consolidation of the subject areas and journals are expected in the years to come. Analysis of co-occurrence on the authors' keywords underlined a limited focus of a business perspective research within the biological cycle, heterogeneous and proactive technological cycle but fragmented research on dual circularity. Further analysis of synergies and limitations is necessary to enhance business effectiveness towards enhanced sustainability.

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An Alternative to Clay in Building Materials: Red Mud Sintering Using Fly Ash via Taguchi’s Methodology

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1155/2013/757923 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Suchita Rai ◽

Dilip H. Lataye ◽

M. J. Chaddha ◽

R. S. Mishra ◽

P. Mahendiran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fly Ash ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Red Mud ◽

Morphological Analysis ◽

Building Materials ◽

Sintering Temperature ◽

Bauxite Residue ◽

Significant Parameter ◽

Alkaline Waste ◽

Free Caustic Soda

“Red mud” or “bauxite residue” is a highly alkaline waste generated from alumina refinery with a pH of 10.5–12.5 which poses serious environmental problems. Neutralization or its treatment by sintering in presence of additives is one of the methods for overcoming the caustic problem as it fixes nearly all the leachable free caustic soda present in red mud. In the present study, feasibility of reducing the alkaline nature of red mud by sintering using fly ash as an additive via Taguchi methodology and its use for brick production, as an alternative to clay, is investigated. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows that sintering temperature is the most significant parameter in the process. A pH of 8.9 was obtained at 25–50% of red mud and 50–75% fly ash with water and temperature of . Alternatively 50% of red mud can be mixed with 50% of fly ash with water at temperature of to get a pH of about 8.4. The mechanism of this process has been explained with also emphasis on chemical, mineralogical, and morphological analysis of the sintered red mud. The results would be extremely useful in utilization of red mud in building and construction industry.

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Bio-based construction materials for a sustainable future

IABSE Congress, New York, New York 2019: The Evolving Metropolis ◽

10.2749/newyork.2019.0859 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Rijk Block ◽

Barbara Kuit ◽

Torsten Schröder ◽

Patrick Teuffel

Keyword(s):

Construction Industry ◽

Structural Engineering ◽

Building Materials ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Construction Materials ◽

Flax Fibres ◽

The Past ◽

Natural Building ◽

Paris Climate Agreement ◽

Primary Materials

The structural engineering community has a strong responsibility to contribute to a more efficient use of natural resources. Nowadays the construction industry is by far the most resource intense industry sector, approximately 40-50% of all primary raw materials are used, which raises the question about the architects and engineer’s accountability. In this context and as a result of the Paris Climate agreement the Dutch government defined the program “Nederland Circulair in 2050”, which states the ambition to use 50% less primary materials in 2030 and to have a full circular economy in 2050.One possible approach to achieve these ambitious goals is the application of renewable, bio-based materials in the built environment and to replace traditional, typically cement-based, materials. Already in the past natural building materials, such as timber and bamboo have been used widely, but in recent years new materials came up and provide new opportunities to be used in the construction industry. The authors explored various alternatives, such as hemp and flax fibres, mycelium and lignin-based fibres for composite materials, which will be described with various experimental and realised case studies.

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DETERMINING OF TECHNOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF BUILDING SYSTEMS BY AHP METHOD

Technological and Economic Development of Economy ◽

10.3846/13928619.2004.9637670 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 135-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Romualdas Ginevičius ◽

Valentinas Podvezko ◽

Algirdas Andruškevičius

Keyword(s):

Construction Industry ◽

Building Materials ◽

Pairwise Comparison ◽

Construction Technology ◽

Ahp Method ◽

Suggested Approach ◽

Construction Enterprise ◽

Construction Enterprises ◽

Building Systems ◽

Technological Effectiveness

The successful performance of construction enterprises as well as their competitiveness are largely determined by the construction technology and management methods used. In this respect two levels referring to a building or structure itself and to a construction enterprise as a whole should be distinguished. The technology of a building or structure embraces its construction system generally characterizing building materials, design solutions and load‐bearing structures and enclosures used in the construction of this particular building. The problem of selecting a general technological criterion for the whole construction enterprise arises. A construction enterprise fulfilling its annual program can simultaneously construct buildings and structures based on various construction systems, i.e. it can use various technologies. Searching for an integrated criterion to describe an enterprise as a whole three main issues including the variation of the applied technologies and their volumes and technological effectiveness should be taken into consideration. In the paper the problem of determining technological effectiveness of construction systems is considered. A method of pairwise comparison developed by T. Saaty was used to address this problem. The calculations were made for all thirteen technologies currently used in Lithuanian construction industry. Based on the suggested approach the weight of technological effectiveness was determined for each of them in the parts of one.

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HOW TO INCREASE CIRCULARITY IN THE SWISS ECONOMY?

Detritus ◽

10.31025/2611-4135/2021.14057 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 25-31

Author(s):

Cecilia Matasci ◽

Marcel Gauch ◽

Heinz Boeni

Keyword(s):

Economic System ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Material Flow ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Flow Analysis ◽

Material Flow Analysis ◽

Material Flows ◽

Environmental Threats ◽

High Level ◽

Recycled Waste

Environmental threats are triggered by the overconsumption of raw materials. It is therefore necessary to move towards a society that both reduces extraction and keeps the majority of the extracted raw materials in the socio-economic system. Circular economy is a key strategy to reach these goals. To implement it effectively, it is necessary to understand and monitor material flows and to define hotspots, i.e. materials that need to be tackled with the highest priority. This paper is aimed at determining how to increase circularity in the Swiss economy by means of a Material Flow Analysis coupled with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment. After having characterized material flows, we analyzed two types of hotspots: i) Raw materials consumed and/or disposed at high level, and ii) Raw materials whose extraction and production generates high environmental impacts. The Material Flow Analysis shows that each year 119 Mt of raw materials enter the Swiss economy. Therefrom, 15 Mt are derived from recycled waste inside the country; 67 Mt leave the system yearly; 27 Mt towards disposal. Out of the disposed materials, 56% are recycled and re-enter the socio-economic system as secondary materials. Looking at hotspots; concrete, asphalt, gravel and sand are among materials that are consumed and disposed at high level. Yet, looking at greenhouse gas emissions generated during extraction and production, metals - including the ones in electrical and electronic equipment - as well as textiles are among the categories that carry the biggest burden on the environment per unit of material.

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Analysis of Strengthening the Application of External Wall Insulation Materials in Green Building Energy Saving Project

Insight - Material Science ◽

10.18282/ims.v3i2.349 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 32

Author(s):

Wenxin Luo

Keyword(s):

Energy Saving ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Building Materials ◽

Green Building ◽

Green Buildings ◽

Exterior Wall ◽

Insulation Materials ◽

Environment Quality

For the development and progress direction of contemporary construction industry, greening has always been one of the most important topics, which is basically consistent with China’s guidelines on environmental protection and resource conservation, with emphasis on whether it can effectively improve the ecological environment quality in urban areas, control various hazards caused by pollution, and build a healthy urban environment for people. Nowadays, the building materials market has also developed in an all-round way, and the types of materials for exterior wall insulation are also increasing. Relatively, the practical application difficulty of various technologies in the construction industry also shows an increasing trend. In order to better highlight the important role of insulation materials for green buildings, this paper will explore the application of exterior wall insulation materials with strong energy saving in green buildings.

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