Smitha, J S and Thomas, A (2021) Integrated model and index for circular economy in the built-environment in the Indian context. Construction Economics and Building, 21(3), pp. 198-220. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
Sustainable development aims at minimising waste and reducing exploitation of natural resources and energy, so that needs of the future generations are taken care of. Circular Economy (CE) is a new drift towards sustainability that aims at minimising waste and promoting material reuse, thereby creating a regenerative system. The construction industry is responsible for the extraction of raw materials and the generation of waste in large quantities, thereby making it an opportune sector for transition to a circular economy. On account of the complex nature of the built environment comprising various phases and associated actors, a proper framework or indexing for the circular economy is missing at present. This study aims to develop an integrated model of CE in the built environment which considers various construction stages and applicable strategies. An index for measuring the circularity potential in construction materials is also proposed, based on attributes developed from literature review and analysis of questionnaire survey. Simple Additive Weighting Method (SAWM), an elementary multi-criteria decision-making method is used for developing the index. It is anticipated that Circular Economy Potential Index (CEPI) would support decision-making in the initial stage of construction projects and help to compare the circularity of materials.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; index; integrated model; recycling |
| Index terms: | multi-criteria decision-making, integrated model, natural resource, exploitation, survey, circular economy, strategy, literature review, circularity, sustainable development, recycling, questionnaire, built environment, construction project, construction material, decision-making, construction stages, indexing, construction industry |
| Subjects: | management, production management, health safety and environment, sustainable design, decision analysis, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, information systems, data collection methods, waste management, sustainable materials, environmental resource management, building materials, data analysis and analytics, project delivery, analytical methods |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Risk Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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