Anastasiades, K; Michels, S; Van Wuytswinkel, H; Blom, J and Audenaert, A (2022) Barriers for the circular reuse of steel in the Belgian construction sector: an industry-wide perspective. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 176(4), pp. 142-155. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
The construction industry is responsible for approximately 40% of the worldwide material consumption. Therefore, the transition to a circular construction industry is of primary importance. In a circular economy, the maximum usage and preservation of materials and energy is suggested. The reuse of components is considered a circular economy best practice. This paper investigates the reuse of steel construction elements in Belgium and identifies the existing barriers. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted with a wide range of stakeholders representing the whole Belgian construction sector. The identified critical barriers to steel reuse are cost, demand and time. Subsequently, these barriers were tested and quantified in practice in co-operation with a demolition contractor. A comparison was made between demolition and deconstruction of steel porticos considering cost, time and demand. It was found that, in practice, demand is the most pressing obstacle. Overcoming this obstacle will require a coordinated approach throughout the Belgian construction chain: improved deconstruction procedures on-site, a platform to match supply and demand, standardisation of reusable steel elements, governmental policies and design strategies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; recycling; reuse of materials; steel structures; UN SDG 12: responsible consumption and production |
| Index terms: | Belgium, design strategy, interview, construction sector, consumption, steel construction, circular economy, recycling, platform, supply and demand, steel structure, construction industry, standardization, best practice |
| Subjects: | market analysis, digital design, Geography, sustainable design, structural engineering, consumer economics, waste management, industry analysis, specialized materials and systems, performance measurement, design methods, business, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Design Practice, Stakeholder Management, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Quality Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here