Revealing the Value of the Circular Economy as a Solution for Mitigating Waste Implications Within the Construction Industry

Johns, Nathan G.O. and Talebi, Saeed and Edwards, D.J. and Roberts, Chris and Shelbourn, Mark (2022) Revealing the Value of the Circular Economy as a Solution for Mitigating Waste Implications Within the Construction Industry. In: the 45th Australasian Universities Building Education Association (AUBEA), 23rd - 25th November 2022, Sydney, Australia. (In Press)

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Abstract

This paper critically reviews the inherent value of the circular economy (CE) as a systems solution framework for mitigating anthropogenic pollution associated with linear consumption and waste within the construction industry. Although the CE has been identified as a key innovation for mitigating the concomitant environmental implications of consumption and waste, within construction activities, it requires further development and application for widescale application. Such development is currently hindered by the industry’s failure to collect pertinent practical data on the inherent value of the CE strategy within the sector. Therefore, to achieve the next stage of development, the inherent value of the CE must be explicitly elucidated upon to incentivise industry application. To explore this phenomenon, a review of core literature and government documents on CE applications in the construction industry were undertaken. The research findings revealed that stakeholders within the industry (e.g., the client, designers and contractors) have a lack of knowledge of the innate value of the CE strategy. This paper’s contribution to knowledge is threefold viz.: (i) it identifies the value driving the CE within the construction industry as a solution to consumption and waste; (ii) it analyses the barriers to wider CE implementation and provides insight into the reasons hindering CE development, and (iii) it provides researchers and practitioners with a pivotal basis for the development of the CE. Future research elucidated upon includes informing and incentivising construction industry stakeholders to gain further practical data collection on the value of the CE strategy within construction.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Dates:	Date Event 21 October 2022 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Circular Economy, Closed-loop, Construction Industry, Environmental Implications, Value
Subjects:	CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-02 - building
Divisions:	Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > School of Engineering and the Built Environment
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	26 Jan 2023 11:33
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2023 11:33
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14152

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