A New Circular Economy Framework for Construction Projects

The construction industry results in a large amount of material waste, most of which currently ends up in landfills. This study aims to find new ways to reuse waste materials captured as outputs of construction projects. First, the circular economy (CE) concept is explored. Second, the application of CE as a potential solution for minimizing material waste on construction projects is investigated. To achieve a healthy industrial metabolism, the paper illustrates how a complex industrial ecosystem is one that produces little or no waste and whose constituents can be interdependent. Output ratios from the construction industry are compared with previous literature on material waste, as a foundation to present a cycle of material reuse. Reformulating the traditional input-output system into a more circular concept presents a set of challenges; however, the opportunities and significant impacts to the material cycles and landfills have proven beneficial and some major cities are starting to employ this concept with great success.

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Recycling and Utilization of Polymers for Road Construction Projects: An Application of the Circular Economy Concept

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13081330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1330

Author(s):

Muhammad Kashif Anwar ◽

Syyed Adnan Raheel Shah ◽

Hatem Alhazmi

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Road Construction ◽

Test Methods ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Modified Asphalt ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

The Stability ◽

Lab Test ◽

Plastic Content

Numerous environmental issues arise as a result of a linear economy strategy: reserves become scarce and end up in landfills and as greenhouse gases. Utilizing waste as a resource or shifting towards a circular economy are among the effective strategies for addressing these issues. To track this shift, appropriate measures that concentrate on sustainable development while taking practical contexts into consideration are required. In this paper, we utilize plastic wastes as a replacement for bitumen for reuse aiming at a circular economy. The use of plastic waste materials, i.e., plastic bottles (PET) and gas pipes (PE) in asphalt materials as a bitumen modifier was studied through series of experimental lab test methods. Marshall samples were prepared using a conventional Marshall method containing five different percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of plastic content by total weight of bitumen. Samples were tested after 1 and 30 days and the result shows that the stability of plastic-modified asphalt concrete was increased after 30 days, while still meeting standard criteria with plastic contents up to 20%. Moreover, the addition of waste plastic in road construction is a very effective strategy for reusing plastic waste, which also provides economic and social benefits for a sustainable approach to road pavements.

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Circular Economy of Construction and Demolition Waste: A Literature Review on Lessons, Challenges, and Benefits

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma15010076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 76

Author(s):

Callun Keith Purchase ◽

Dhafer Manna Al Zulayq ◽

Bio Talakatoa O’Brien ◽

Matthew Joseph Kowalewski ◽

Aydin Berenjian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Material Handling ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Early Stage ◽

Construction And Demolition Waste ◽

Small Scale ◽

Demolition Waste ◽

Recovery Processes ◽

And Performance

Conventionally, in a linear economy, C&D (Construction and Demolition) waste was considered as zero value materials, and, as a result of that, most C&D waste materials ended up in landfills. In recent years, with the increase in the awareness around sustainability and resource management, various countries have started to explore new models to minimize the use of limited resources which are currently overused, mismanaged, or quickly depleting. In this regard, the implementation of CE (Circular Economy) has emerged as a potential model to minimize the negative impact of C&D wastes on the environment. However, there are some challenges hindering a full transition to CE in the construction and demolition sectors. Therefore, this review paper aims to critically scrutinize different aspects of C&D waste and how CE can be integrated into construction projects. Reviewing of the literature revealed that the barriers in the implementation of CE in C&D waste sectors fall in five main domains, namely legal, technical, social, behavioral, and economic aspects. In this context, it was found that policy and governance, permits and specifications, technological limitation, quality and performance, knowledge and information, and, finally, the costs associated with the implementation of CE model at the early stage are the main barriers. In addition to these, from the contractors’ perspective, C&D waste dismantling, segregation, and on-site sorting, transportation, and local recovery processes are the main challenges at the start point for small-scale companies. To address the abovementioned challenges, and also to minimize the ambiguity of resulting outcomes by implementing CE in C&D waste sectors, there is an urgent need to introduce a global framework and a practicable pathway to allow companies to implement such models, regardless of their scale and location. Additionally, in this paper, recommendations on the direction for areas of future studies for a reduction in the environmental impacts have been provided. To structure an effective model approach, the future direction should be more focused on dismantling practices, hazardous material handling, quality control on waste acceptance, and material recovery processes, as well as a incentivization mechanism to promote ecological, economic, and social benefits of the CE for C&D sectors.

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Developing critical success factors for integrating circular economy into modular construction projects in Hong Kong

Sustainable Production and Consumption ◽

10.1016/j.spc.2021.11.010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ibrahim Yahaya Wuni ◽

Geoffrey Qiping Shen

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Modular Construction ◽

Critical Success

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Integrated Model and Index for Circular Economy in the Built-Environment in the Indian Context

Construction Economics and Building ◽

10.5130/ajceb.v21i3.7684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Smitha J.S ◽

Albert Thomas

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Built Environment ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Construction Materials ◽

Integrated Model ◽

Complex Nature ◽

Weighting Method ◽

Simple Additive Weighting

Sustainable development aims at minimising waste and reducing exploitation of natural resources and energy, so that needs of the future generations are taken care of. Circular Economy (CE) is a new drift towards sustainability that aims at minimising waste and promoting material reuse, thereby creating a regenerative system. The construction industry is responsible for the extraction of raw materials and the generation of waste in large quantities, thereby making it an opportune sector for transition to a circular economy. On account of the complex nature of the built environment comprising various phases and associated actors, a proper framework or indexing for the circular economy is missing at present. This study aims to develop an integrated model of CE in the built environment which considers various construction stages and applicable strategies. An index for measuring the circularity potential in construction materials is also proposed, based on attributes developed from literature review and analysis of questionnaire survey. Simple Additive Weighting Method (SAWM), an elementary multi-criteria decision-making method is used for developing the index. It is anticipated that Circular Economy Potential Index (CEPI) would support decision-making in the initial stage of construction projects and help to compare the circularity of materials.

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Implementation of circular economy principles during pre-construction stage: the case of Sri Lanka

Built Environment Project and Asset Management ◽

10.1108/bepam-04-2020-0072 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Amodith Supunmal Wijewansha ◽

G.A. Tennakoon ◽

K.G.A.S. Waidyasekara ◽

B.J. Ekanayake

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Well Being ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Construction Sector ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Construction Stage ◽

Content Type

PurposeDespite the positive impacts of the construction sector on enhancing economic growth and ensuring societal well-being, its negative impacts on the environment from unsustainable resource consumption levels, emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and waste generation is monumental. Circular economy (CE) concept is identified globally as an avenue to address problems regarding adverse impacts of construction on the environment. This paper presents the principles of CE as an avenue for enhancing environmental sustainability during the pre-construction stage within Sri Lankan construction projects.Design/methodology/approachThis research was approached through a qualitative research method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts. The number of experts were limited due to lack of experts with knowledge on the subject area in Sri Lanka. Data were analysed using content analysis.FindingsFindings revealed a range of activities under each R principle of CE, that is, reduce, reuse, recycle, redesign, reclassification and renewability that could be implemented during the pre-construction stage, thereby providing a guide for construction professionals in implementing CE at the pre-construction stage. The need to expand knowledge on CE concepts within the Sri Lankan construction sector was recognized.Originality/valueThis study provides a qualitative in-depth perspective on how 6R principles of CE could be integrated to a construction project during the pre-construction stage. By adopting the proposed activities under CE principles, construction professionals can enhance the environmental sustainability of construction projects.

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An Inspection of the Life Cycle of Sustainable Construction Projects: Towards a Biomimicry-Based Road Map Integrating Circular Economy

Biomimetics ◽

10.3390/biomimetics6040067 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 67

Author(s):

Kimberly Beermann ◽

Miguel Chen Austin

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Construction Project Management ◽

Construction Sector ◽

Reference Framework ◽

Road Map ◽

High Consumption ◽

The Face ◽

High Level

According to the National Energy Plan in Panama, the construction sector is one of the most prosperous and impactful sectors in the economy and it is expected to expand due to population growth by almost 300% by 2050. However, this sector must work on the transition towards sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change, since its growth implies a high consumption of resources and the contribution of greenhouse gases. The need to establish practices and strategies that embrace the dimension of sustainability and a circular economy is imminent. Currently, there is little guidance in the reference framework beyond certifications in planning, management and evaluation tools for its implementation. Different studies vary in the number of phases and considerations for projects. Therefore, the present work proposes the development of a unified road map, with defined phases, practices and indicators based on principles inspired by nature, such as biomimicry (Greek words: “bio” means life and “mimesis”, imitation), and focuses on a circular economy, validated by construction professionals, where strengths, opportunities, skills and threats are identified with a high level of acceptance. This contributes to strengthening the field of sustainable construction project management and a precedent for Panama.

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Simulation-Based Positioning of Circular Economy Manager’s Skills in Construction Projects

Symmetry ◽

10.3390/sym12010050 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 50 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jarosław Górecki

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Selection Criteria ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Project Managers ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Material Resources ◽

Decision Making Problem ◽

Additional Support ◽

Additional Value

Circular economy (CE) is an emerging economic model based on the endless circulation flow of resources creating additional value. In temporary organizations such as construction projects, all administrative decisions are crucial for final success. One of the ideas is to enroll a circular economy manager (CEMR) and put him in an organizational structure. Implementation of the CE concept should be the effort of the entire project team. However, actions specific to the innovative nature of the procedures related to the CE in construction projects require additional support. It can be provided by professionals who can adapt a wide spectrum of knowledge to be used for promoting CE in the execution of construction processes. CEMRs can play the role of patrons of the CE issues because they support project managers in saving material resources in construction projects. The symmetry between visible outcomes of the CE idea and the employment of an extra manager has contributed to the development of the CEMR selection criteria model. However, effective recruitment for such a post may be a bit complicated for decision-makers, especially when CE is still enigmatic, as its procedures are quite undiscovered. All in all, the multi-criteria decision-making problem forces one to prepare the list of selection criteria and to rank them according to status in the hierarchy. This article shows prioritized criteria for selecting the CEMR based on the advanced literature review concluded after several expert-based reviews and calculated after some Monte Carlo simulations. The main purpose of this article is to help decision-makers in construction projects to perform a reliable recruitment process.

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