Abadi, M; Moore, D R and Sammuneh, M A (2021) A framework of indicators to measure project circularity in construction circular economy. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 175(2), pp. 54-66. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
The construction circular economy (CE) literature lacks a holistic framework for systematic assessment of project 'circularity', thereby impeding industry restructuring and full transition to CE. The proposed 'project life-cycle assessment circularity indicators and themes' (PLACIT) framework supports thematic circularity ratings in construction projects using 12 circularity indicators (CIs), representing high-level requirements of CE, grouped into five themes relevant to project life-cycle stages. This helps identify areas of good practice and those requiring circularity improvements. A systematic literature review, structured in line with PLACIT, revealed an increasing association between CE and 'constructability' but varying engagement with CIs. The predominant engagement with indicators within the industry's comfort zone indicates supply-push practices focusing on aspirational CE design solutions and CE management, missing opportunities from engaging with more demand-pull indicators-for example, reduced material inputs-and embedding circular materials in design practices. Full transition to CE will require engaging with a wide range of indicators throughout the whole project life cycle in a more complex network. Moreover, PLACIT has potentials to set clear boundaries between 'sustainability' and CE concepts, currently ill defined in the literature. Future research (Association for Project Management supported) will seek to validate PLACIT using expert feedback and use circularity ratings to support decision making in construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; project management; sustainability |
| Index terms: | construction project, good practice, boundaries, circularity, circular economy, constructability, systematic literature review, life cycle, project management, decision-making, design practice, comfort |
| Subjects: | property law, construction integration, production management, occupational health and safety management, research evaluation and metrics, project management theory and practice, value management, performance measurement, design process, sustainable materials, sustainable design, decision analysis |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Quality Management, Risk Management, Design Practice, Health and Safety, Legal Issues, Research Practice, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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