Implementing the Principles of Circular Economy in the Construction Industry

Abstract

This master thesis attempts to address the polluting nature of construction industry that faces significant demands due to the trends of population growth and urbanization. The observation is made that the current take-make-dispose way of operation is outdated, unsustainable and needs to be replaced with alternative practices that minimize waste and focus on resource efficiency. To this end, this thesis advocates for the use of Circular Economy (CE) principles in the construction sector exploring the current practice, the barriers in the way of its implementation, and the enablers that can be used to accelerate their implementation.
The paper has focused on first defining the context of the scenario where the problems need to be resolved. Here the research found that the current definition of CE in the sector is extremely ambiguous and diluted with other principles, such as sustainability, reducing the effectiveness of this tool. To combat this, the thesis has developed a construction industry specific definition of CE. Moreover, the paper explored the past applications of this concept identifying previously successful sectors and factors that has led to CE thriving there.
Besides CE, the thesis contextualized the construction industry defining its inherent characteristics and comparing them to the previously defined sectors. Moreover, the research gave information about the lifecycle of construction projects, the ways in which CE principles are used, and the way in which CE affects the sector.
Following contextualization, the paper defines the problem through exploring the barriers. Here the research gave a list of 10 most critical hurdles that need to be overcome arranged in a sequence of importance. Moreover, the thesis gives a comprehensive list of 47 enablers that provide opportunities for overcoming the challenges.
Based on the available information, the study devised a general approach to barrier resolution. Here the research categorized the previously defined variables and connected them with one-another to find unique pathways to solutions. The general approach was used to create 10 targeted preliminary strategies.
The results demonstrate the complexity of achieving a systematic transition of the construction industry in a circular mode of operation. This study provides a solid academic foundation for achieving the final task. The developed 10 preliminary strategies can be used as a starting point for more in-depth solutions. For future research, paper suggests validating the general findings through real-life applications and learning from more industries about implementation and use of CE