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Gerding, D, Wamelink, H and Leclercq, E (2020) Implementation of Circularity in the Building Process: A Case Study Research into Organizing the Actor Network and Decision-Making Process. In: Scott, L and Neilson, C J (Eds.), Proceedings 36th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-8 September 2020, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 556-565.
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Keywords: actor network analysis, circular construction, decision-making, life cycle, sustainable building practices
- ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9955463-3-2
- URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/1a213136a716b7036ca420f32da0d66b.pdf
- Abstract:
The building sector is responsible for a large share of the total waste production and CO2 emissions globally. The current pressing scarcity of resources and polluting influence of waste, requires a more circular building approach to support the need for sustainable building. Circular strategies aim to reduce waste by closing and narrowing resource loops and by extending the life time of materials and products. As a consequence of this fundamentally different approach to construction practices, implementing circularity entails a different organization of the building process. Literature indicates that this requires different actors to be involved and different decisions to be made. Currently, however, it is not common practice to organize the building process and perceive the design of buildings in favour of circularity. The goal of this research is to make recommendations for improving the actor network and the decision-making process to facilitate implementation of circularity in construction practices. Literature discusses the different ends (reduce, reuse, recycle) that circularity can serve. In agreement with these ends, certain strategies can be chosen to support decision-making preferably in the beginning and end of a building’s life time. The case study research provides insights into which actors should be involved at certain building process stages, and what decisions should be made that favour circularity. It is concluded that circular-related actors and traditional actors with circular-related resources are to be involved early on in the building process and should have a high degree of decision-making power, particularly concerning long-lived layers of a building. Through these gained insights this research contributes to the current state of sustainable building practices and provides pivotal insights to further mature circular construction in practice.