Al Hosni, I S; Amoudi, O and Callaghan, N (2020) An exploratory study on challenges of circular economy in the built environment in Oman. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 173(3), pp. 104-113. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
Circular economy (CE) is a sustainable substitute for the current linear model of economy, and its adoption within the Omani built environment is increasing due to resource depletion and increased waste generation. The construction industry in Oman is one of the first among countries in the Arab states to pursue sustainable development. However, understanding the implementation challenges associated with CE is important to this region, as it attempts to diversify its economies beyond oil and gas, which is vital to the success of the country. The main challenges identified within the literature in relation to CE include a lack of knowledge of the concept, unclear financial implications, misaligned regulations and a lack of transparent technical data. The aim of this study was to explore such challenges within the context of Oman, and an exploratory study consisting of ten interviews and 80 survey responses was undertaken. Factor analysis results revealed that the critical challenges of CE ultimately begin with government barriers such as the absence of a clear vision and legislation supporting CE. This was followed by a lack of government funding for research, innovation and investment, as well as technical barriers such as a lack of qualified professionals in the field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | recycling & reuse of materials; sustainability; waste management & disposal |
| Index terms: | exploratory study, survey, sustainable development, interview, legislation, waste management, regulation, circular economy, waste generation, Oman, recycling, oil and gas, construction industry, implementation, factor analysis, built environment, funding, depletion |
| Subjects: | research methods, sustainable design, health safety and environment, Geography, environmental impact, waste management, environmental resource management, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, legal systems, statistical analysis, political science, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Procurement, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Legal Issues, Governance, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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