The Circular Construction Industry

This chapter defines circular construction, and how the construction industry should prepare and make interventions to promote the transition from a linear model to circular and sustainable ways of designing, constructing, maintaining and dealing with waste. Circular construction is an emerging business strategy that promotes the reuse and recycling of as many raw materials as possible in a bid to minimise CO₂ emissions and waste to landfill. The chapter focuses on construction and demolition waste (CDW) and how potential new technologies developed for other applications can be utilised to bring circularity to CDW management. CDW alarming impacts have caused increased public concerns. Aiming to boost resource exploitation efficiency, circular construction should improve CDW waste management practices. However, transition and implementation of circular construction practices are slowed down by technical, social and legislative barriers. Circular construction, as an important component of sustainability, is a new business model that promotes the maximum reuse and recycling of raw materials and products to reduce waste and CO₂ emissions. Reduce, reuse, recycle and recover are essential interventions for a circular construction, with a systemic shift in the culture and mindsets of stakeholders.