Circular Economy In The Construction Industry

Circular Economy in the Construction Industry is an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, implementers and PhD and Masters-level students in universities analyzing the present status of Construction and Demolition Wastes (C&DW) management, materials development utilizing slag, fly ash, HDPE fibre, geo-wastes, and other wastes, green concrete, soil stabilization, resource circulation in construction sectors, success in experimentation & commercial production, future needs, and future research areas. While huge C&DW is wasted by dumping, there is potential of recycling preventing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental pollution as well as creating business opportunities. Circularity of resources in the construction industry can contribute to a more secure, sustainable, and economically sound future through proper policy instruments, management systems, and recycling by selecting the following: Supply chain sustainability and collection of C&D Wastes, Appropriate separation and recycling technology, Enforcement of policy instruments, Productivity, quality control of recycled products and intended end use, Economic feasibility as business case, commercialization, generating employment. This book addresses most of the above issues in a lucid manner by experts in the field from different countries, which are helpful for the related stakeholders, edited by experts in the field.

The concept of a circular economy in the construction sector captures global material flow through product design, inverse logistics, innovation and collaborations. The circulation of the economy takes into consideration global population influence, which affects the economy through a variety of construction product flows in particular. The increase in consumers means increasing product and services which participate in different waste streams. The emerging sustainable development in the construction industry requires the recycling of waste materials to reduce the negative environmental impact of construction activities. Accumulation and management of construction wastes is also becoming a major environmental and economical concern in many developing countries. Huge volumes of waste generated end up piled on landfill sites or illegally dumped, posing serious health and ecological problems. In the construction industry, recycling of waste concrete, masonry, cement, gypsum, to mention but a few, has become an important aspect due to the continued increase of construction wastes and depletion of natural aggregates. Why not establish a business system that is specifically designed to do much more value addition to the construction wastes and develop products which are not only in demand locally but internationally, to encourage exports for maximum financial gain. This book aims to analyze the current business model in the construction sector and the current legislation concerning waste management. It also highlights efforts required in order to refine the recycling methods in favor of a circular economy in the constuction industry. In support of a transition to a low carbon economy, different types of materials which can be produced from the construction wastes are indicated including processes which are used to obtain the final products. The market demand including penetration of the resulting products are given extensively. Policies and regulations to govern these undertakings are highlighted also. The municipalities will learn to redirect the local construction industries on how to avoid dumping at landfill sites as the space has currently become an issue. Researchers globally will learn how to go up through the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) from basic research through prototype development and finally up to commercialization in projects related to the construction.

The construction industry operates within a linear economy of make, use, dispose. Buildings are stripped out and torn down with astonishing regularity while new buildings are constructed from hard-won virgin materials. But raw materials are becoming scarce, and the demands for them are exploiting fragile ecosystems, even as the global demand for resources continues to rise. Policy makers and organisations are beginning to look for a more regenerative, circular economy model. The construction industry demands over half the world’s extracted materials and generates around a third of the total waste generated in the EU, making it a prime candidate for applying the circular economy. Yet there has been little focus on how construction industry professionals and their clients can contribute towards the movement. Drawing on illustrative methods and examples, Building Revolutions explains how the principles of a circular economy can be applied to the built environment where resources are kept in use and their value retained.

This open access book explores the strategic importance and advantages of adopting multidisciplinary and multiscalar approaches of inquiry and intervention with respect to the built environment, based on principles of sustainability and circular economy strategies. A series of key challenges are considered in depth from a multidisciplinary perspective, spanning engineering, architecture, and regional and urban economics. These challenges include strategies to relaunch socioeconomic development through regenerative processes, the regeneration of urban spaces from the perspective of resilience, the development and deployment of innovative products and processes in the construction sector in order to comply more fully with the principles of sustainability and circularity, and the development of multiscale approaches to enhance the performance of both the existing building stock and new buildings. The book offers a rich selection of conceptual, empirical, methodological, technical, and case study/project-based research. It will be of value for all who have an interest in regeneration of the built environment from a circular economy perspective.

This book is a call to arms to all architects, designers and built environment professionals. To avoid a climate catastrophe and achieve a regenerative built environment, the use of new materials and any excess waste in resources need to be cut out from the very beginning of the design process. This requires far-reaching change in established industry processes. How might this begin? What are the key fundamentals you need to know? How can a more effective model be applied? This book, a much-updated second edition of the author’s previous work Building Revolutions, answers all your questions. Inspiring, but never overwhelming, the Handbook to Building a Circular Economy is your must-have companion to helping create a more sustainable future. It explains in simple and practical terms how the principles of a circular economy can be applied to the built environment, thereby reducing the resources required to construct, fit-out, maintain and refurbish buildings. Case studies include: The Forge, UK, by Landsec The Bath School of Art, UK, by Grimshaw Urban Mining and Recycling Experimental Unit, Switzerland, by Werner Sobek NASA Sustainability Base, USA, by William McDonough + Partners University of East Anglia Enterprise Centre, UK, by Architype Park 20|20, The Netherlands, by William McDonough + Partners.

As the planet’s natural resources continue to be depleted, society’s environmental awareness has grown. Businesses especially are being coerced into incorporating more sustainable approaches to carrying out their activities. Organizations that develop sustainable business strategies that deliver enhanced value by radically reducing material inputs and engaging consumers on circular economy will be well-positioned for success. Mapping, Managing, and Crafting Sustainable Business Strategies for the Circular Economy is an essential reference source that discusses implementing sustainable business strategies as well as economic policies for the modern business era. Featuring research on topics such as global business, urban innovation, and cost management, this book is ideally designed for managers, operators, manufacturers, academics, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, business professionals, and students seeking coverage on utilizing natural resources in the most sustainable way.

About the way we use and reuse the resources in the building industry and ultimately eliminate the concept of waste. The book seeks to provide inspiration for 'building a circular future' by providing a set of principles and bringing forward the best practices from in and outside the building industry. This book presents findings, case studies, background and context for the project ?Building a Circular Future?, and consist of three main chapters: Design for Disassembly, Material Passport and Circular Economy. All content comes from extensive research and through workshops with partners across industries. The book furthermore provides 15 principles for "Building a Circular Future" and a thoroughly calculated business case, which documents that a demolition, that today would cost ?2.151.249,56 can be turned into a ?4.705.858,41 business upside in a future circular building industry.

This book comprises a selection of the top contributions presented at the second international conference “Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions 2017”, held in March 2017 in Bolzano, Italy. Featuring forty-six papers by policy-makers, academics and consultants, it discusses current groundbreaking research in smart and sustainable planning, including the progress made in overcoming cities’ challenges towards improving the quality of life. Climate change adaptation and mitigation of global warming, generally identified as drivers of global policies, are just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to smart energy transition. Indeed, equally relevant towards this current transformation – and key topics in this volume – are ICTs, public spaces and society; next economy for the city; strategies and actions for good governance; urban-rural innovation; rethinking mobility. The book’s depth in understanding and insightfulness in re-thinking demonstrate the breaking of new ground in smart and sustainable planning. A new ground that policy-makers, academics and consultants may build upon as a bedrock for smart and sustainable planning.