Development of the Circular Economy Design Guidelines for the Australian Built Environment Sector

Atiq Zaman, Ana Maria Caceres Ruiz (), Salman Shooshtarian, Tim Ryley, Savindi Caldera and Tayyab Maqsood
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Atiq Zaman: Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
Ana Maria Caceres Ruiz: Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
Salman Shooshtarian: School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Australia
Tim Ryley: Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia
Savindi Caldera: Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia
Tayyab Maqsood: School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Australia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: The construction and demolition (C&D) waste stream is the main source of solid waste in Australia. While there is a strong circularity drive in Australia’s and state/territory governments’ waste regulatory framework, clear guidelines for C&D waste management are yet to be developed for the built environment sector in Australia. This study proposes a suite of construction industry-specific guidelines for achieving circular economy (CE) goals by reviewing issues related to “Design for Zero Waste” (DfZW) and “Design for Recycling” (DfR). To do so, this study explores the current CE practices in construction and infrastructure projects in both global and Australian contexts through a systematic literature review. In addition, barriers and enablers of CE in the built environment were identified. This study provides a list of guidelines that can help industry practitioners achieve CE in the construction sector in Australia. These guidelines draw on the main themes identified through the literature review: circularity practices, resource management, innovation, and optimisation. Thus, this study bridges the gap between theory and practice by offering clear, circular guidelines for designing out C&D waste in Australia. The proposed guidelines enable industry practitioners to keep products and materials in use for a longer period and develop strategies to regenerate natural systems. Future research should focus on several aspects, including measuring emissions reductions linked to the strategies shown in the proposed guidelines.

Keywords: circular economy; construction industry; built environment; guidelines; resource management; products with recycled content; design for zero waste; design for recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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