The construction sector needs to urgently adopt a circular economy mindset in order to address the growing amount of waste generated, a new study by the MIT Climate Portal has suggested.
According to the study, in 2018, the US alone produced 600 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste, while the EU generated 820 million tonnes and China generates some 2 billion tonnes annually.
This resource loss is being perpetuated by the ‘take-make-dispose’ linear model of the construction sector, rather than ‘make-use-reuse’ approach of a circular economy, which could help to reduce the environmental impact of the industry.
“This paper acts as an initial endeavour into understanding what the industry may be motivated by, and how integration of stakeholder motivations could lead to greater adoption,” commented lead author Juliana Berglund-Brown, PhD student in the Department of Architecture at MIT.
Perceptions of circularity
MIT researchers surveyed key stakeholders in North America, Europe, and Asia – including material suppliers, design teams, and real estate developers – to understand their perceptions of circularity and willingness to pay for its adoption.
While the construction industry is largely aware of reuse practices, circular economy methods have yet to be implemented at scale, the study found. Key barriers identified include client interest, lack of standardised assessment methods, logistics complexity, and higher costs.
Despite these challenges, stakeholders expressed a willingness to absorb higher construction costs in exchange for a significant reduction in embodied carbon, with developers willing to pay an average of 9.6% more for a minimum 52.9% reduction in embodied carbon.
Cost incentive
According to the study, further conversation will be needed between design teams and developers, as well as exploration into potential solutions to practical challenges, to help drive circularity in the construction sector,
“The thing about circularity is that there is opportunity for a lot of value creation, and subsequently profit,” commented Berglund-Brown. “If people are motivated by cost, let’s provide a cost incentive, or establish strategies that have one.” Read more here.
