Strategies for Adoption of Circular Economy in the Nigeria Construction Industry
Source: By:Author(s)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jmser.v6i2.5846
Abstract:The concept of circular economy has gained recognition as a way to manage waste and conserve resources sustainably, and has the potential to transform the construction industry. This is particularly relevant in the construction industry due to the significant amounts of waste generated during the construction and demolition process. This study examines the perceived importance and effectiveness of strategies related to the circular economy in the construction industry. The data were collected through a survey administered to professionals in the construction sector, capturing their perceptions of various strategies. The results reveal that most strategies received high mean ratings, indicating their perceived significance. Strategies such as waste management and recycling facilities, design for disassembly, and prioritising the use of renewable and sustainable materials were highly valued by the respondents. Additionally, statistical analyses confirmed the significance of these strategies. However, some strategies received comparatively lower ratings, suggesting the need for further attention and improvement. The findings have important implications for policymakers, industry professionals, and stakeholders, guiding decision-making and resource allocation. By prioritising and implementing the identified strategies, stakeholders can drive the adoption of circular economy principles, enhance resource efficiency, and reduce waste in construction practices. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for future research, highlighting the importance of exploring barriers to implementation, understanding synergies and trade-offs among strategies, conducting longitudinal studies to assess long-term impact, and broadening the participant pool for a more comprehensive understanding. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the circular economy in the construction industry and provides valuable insights for promoting sustainability and circularity within the sector.
References:[1] Fagone, C., Santamicone, M., Villa, V., 2023. Architecture engineering and construction industrial framework for circular economy: Development of a circular construction site methodology. Sustainability. 15(3), 1813. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031813 [2] Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction [Internet]. UNEP; 2021 [cited 2021 Oct 25]. Available from: http://www.unep.org/resources/report/2021-global-status-report-buildings-and-construction [3] Debrah, C., Chan, A.P., Darko, A., 2022. Artificial intelligence in green building. Automation in Construction. 137, 104192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2022.104192 [4] Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong. Waste Statistics for 2020 [Internet]. Environmental Protection Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR; 2021. Available from: https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/sites/default/files/msw2020.pdf [5] Islam, R., Nazifa, T.H., Yuniarto, A., et al., 2019. An empirical study of construction and demolition waste generation and implication of recycling. Waste Management. 95, 10-21. [6] González, A., Sendra, C., Herena, A., et al., 2021. Methodology to assess the circularity in building construction and refurbishment activities. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances. 12, 200051. [7] Towards a Circular Economy: Business Rationale for an Accelerated Transition [Internet]. Ellen MacArthur Foundation; 2015. Available at: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/towardsthe-circular-economy-vol-1-an-economic-and business-rationale-for-an [8] Hossain, M.U., Ng, S.T., Antwi-Afari, P., et al., 2020. Circular economy and the construction industry: Existing trends, challenges and prospective framework for sustainable construction. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.130, 109948. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109948 [9] Hart, J., Adams, K., Giesekam, J., et al., 2019. Barriers and drivers in a circular economy: The case of the built environment. Procedia Cirp. 80, 619-624. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.12.015 [10]Blomsma, F., Brennan, G., 2017. The emergence of circular economy: A new framing around prolonging resource productivity. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 21(3), 603-614. [11] Urain, I., Eguren, J.A., Justel, D., 2022. Development and validation of a tool for the integration of the circular economy in industrial companies: Case study of 30 companies. Journal of Cleaner Production. 370, 133318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133318 [12]Tennakoon, G.A., Rameezdeen, R., Chileshe, N., 2022. Diverting demolition waste toward secondary markets through integrated reverse logistics supply chains: A systematic literature review. Waste Management & Research. 40(3), 274-293. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X211021478 [13]Ghisellini, P., Ji, X., Liu, G., et al., 2018. Evaluating the transition towards cleaner production in the construction and demolition sector of China: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 195, 418-434. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.084 [14]Bigolin, M., Danilevicz, Â.D.M.F., da Silva Filho, L.C.P., (editors), 2016. Sustainability requirements for concrete block elements based on recycled CDW: A case study for supporting social production in southern Brazil. 2016 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET); 2016 Sep 4-8; Honolulu, HI, USA. New York: IEEE. p. 2413-2419. [15]Bouzon, M., Govindan, K., Rodriguez, C.M.T., 2015. Reducing the extraction of minerals: Reverse logistics in the machinery manufacturing industry sector in Brazil using ISM approach. Resources Policy. 46, 27-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2015.02.001 [16]Wijewansha, A.S., Tennakoon, G.A., Waidyasekara, K.G.A.S., et al., 2021. Implementation of circular economy principles during pre-construction stage: The case of Sri Lanka. Built Environment Project and Asset Management. 11(4), 750-766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-04-2020-0072 [17]Guerra, B.C., Leite, F., 2021. Circular economy in the construction industry: An overview of United States stakeholders’ awareness, major challenges, and enablers. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 170, 105617. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105617 [18]Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N.M., et al., 2017. The circular economy—A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production. 143, 757-768. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048 [19]Charef, R., Morel, J.C., Rakhshan, K., 2021. Barriers to implementing the circular economy in the construction industry: A critical review. Sustainability. 13(23), 12989. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132312989 [20]Christensen, T.B., Johansen, M.R., Buchard, M.V., et al., 2022. Closing the material loops for construction and demolition waste: The circular economy on the island Bornholm, Denmark. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances.15, 200104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2022.200104 [21]Munaro, M.R., Tavares, S.F., Bragança, L., 2020. Towards circular and more sustainable buildings: A systematic literature review on the circular economy in the built environment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 260, 121134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121134 [22]Brändström, J., Eriksson, O., 2022. How circular is a value chain? Proposing a Material Efficiency Metric to evaluate business models. Journal of Cleaner Production. 342, 130973. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130973 [23]Švarc, J., Dabić, M., Lažnjak, J., 2022. Assessment of the European monitoring frameworks for circular economy: The case of Croatia. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 33(2), 371-389. [24]Henrysson, M., Papageorgiou, A., Björklund, A., et al., 2022. Monitoring progress towards a circular economy in urban areas: An application of the European Union circular economy monitoring framework in Umeå municipality. Sustainable Cities and Society. 87, 104245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104245 [25]Alberich, J.P., Pansera, M., Hartley, S., 2023. Understanding the EU’s circular economy policies through futures of circularity. Journal of Cleaner Production. 385, 135723. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135723 [26]Bauwens, T., Hekkert, M., Kirchherr, J., 2020. Circular futures: What will they look like? Ecological Economics. 175, 106703. [27]Qu, D., Shevchenko, T., Saidani, M., et al., 2021. Transition towards a circular economy: The role of university assets in the implementation of a new model. Detritus. 17, 3-14. [28]Orr, D.W., 2002. Four challenges of sustainability. Conservation Biology. 16(6), 1457-1460. [29]Yu, Y., Junjan, V., Yazan, D.M., et al., 2022. A systematic literature review on Circular Economy implementation in the construction industry: A policy-making perspective. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 183, 106359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106359 [30]Zaman, A.U., Lehmann, S., 2013. The zero waste index: A performance measurement tool for waste management systems in a ‘zero waste city’. Journal of Cleaner Production. 50, 123-132. [31]Potocnik, J., Antonia, G., 2019. The World’s Economy is Only 9% Circular. We Must Be Bolder about Saving Resources [Internet]. World Economic Forum. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/economy-circular-recycling/ [32]Solid Waste Master Plan: Review of Policy and Trends [Internet]. HDR Consulting, Dillon Consulting Limited, Love Environmental Inc., Robins Environmental; 2020. Available from: https://ehqproduction-canada.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/documents/attachments/f05fff54c60dff343421f0a617d0b642837451dc/000/033/067/original/Technical_Memorandum_4_Review_of_Policies_and_Trends.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4KKNQAKIOR7VAOP4%2F20230822%2Fca-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&XAmz-Date=20230822T012803Z&X-AmzExpires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&xAmz-Signature=eec8e0ff13cbd015d536af2018e041927e1a6319e32322cdf8f043f355f644b2 [33]Stahel, W.R., 2016. The circular economy. Nature. 531(7595), 435-438. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/531435a [34]Kaza, S., Yao, L., Bhada-Tata, P., et al., 2018. What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050. World Bank Publications: Washington, D.C. [35]Schools of Thought [Internet]. Ellen MacArthur Foundation; 2022 [cited 2021 Oct 5]. Available from: guides.co/g/mv5ue63s0a/165170 [36]Bocken, N.M., De Pauw, I., Bakker, C., et al., 2016. Product design and business model strategies for a circular economy. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering. 33(5), 308-320. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21681015.2016.1172124 [37]Lieder, M., Rashid, A., 2016. Towards circular economy implementation: A comprehensive review in context of manufacturing industry. Journal of Cleaner Production. 115, 36-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.042 [38]Christensen, T.B., Hauggaard-Nielsen, H., 2020. Circular economy: Practices, knowledgebases and novelty. Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies. 18(1), 2-16. [39]Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., Hekkert, M., 2017. Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 127, 221-232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005 [40]Pearce, D.W., Turner, R.K., Turner, R.K., 1990. Economics of natural resources and the environment. Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. [41]Osei-Tutu, S., Ayarkwa, J., Osei-Asibey, D., et al., 2023. Barriers impeding circular economy (CE) uptake in the construction industry. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. 12(4), 892-918. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-03-2022-0049 [42]Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., Ulgiati, S., 2016. A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production. 114, 11-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007 [43]Peiró, L.T., Polverini, D., Ardente, F., et al., 2020. Advances towards circular economy policies in the EU: The new Ecodesign regulation of enterprise servers. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 154, 104426. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104426 [44]Vermeulen, W.J., Reike, D., Witjes, S., 2019. Circular Economy 3.0: Solving confusion around new conceptions of circularity by synthesising and re-organising the 3R’s concept into a 10R hierarchy. Renewable Matter. 27, 12-15. [45]Potting, J., Hekkert, M.P., Worrell, E., et al.,2017. Circular economy: Measuring innovation in the product chain. PBL Publishers: The Hague. [46]Pomponi, F., Moncaster, A., 2017. Circular economy for the built environment: A research framework. Journal of Cleaner Production. 143, 710-718. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.055 [47]Mendoza, J.M.F., Gallego-Schmid, A., Azapagic, A., 2019. Building a business case for implementation of a circular economy in higher education institutions. Journal of Cleaner Production. 220, 553-567. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.045 [48]Mahpour, A., 2018. Prioritizing barriers to adopt circular economy in construction and demolition waste management. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 134, 216-227. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.01.026 [49]Aguilar-Hernandez, G.A., Sigüenza-Sanchez, C.P., Donati, F., et al., 2019. The circularity gap of nations: A multiregional analysis of waste generation, recovery, and stock depletion in 2011. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 151, 104452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104452 [50]Hopff, B., Nijhuis, S., Verhoef, L.A., 2019. New dimensions for circularity on campus—Framework for the application of circular principles in campus development. Sustainability. 11(3), 627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030627 [51]Guzzo, D., Trevisan, A.H., Echeveste, M., et al., 2019. Circular innovation framework: Verifying conceptual to practical decisions in sustainability-oriented product-service system cases. Sustainability. 11(12), 3248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123248 [52]Prendeville, S., Cherim, E., Bocken, N., 2018. Circular cities: Mapping six cities in transition. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 26, 171-194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2017.03.002 [53]Growth Within: A Circular Economy Vision for a Competitive Europe [Internet]. EMF, SUN, & Deutsche Post Foundation; 2015 [cited 2021 Apr 13]. Available from: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/EllenMacArthurFoundation_Growth_Within_July15.pdf [54]Superti, V., Houmani, C., Binder, C.R., 2021. A systemic framework to categorize Circular Economy interventions: An application to the construction and demolition sector. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 173, 105711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105711 [55]Pinheiro, M.A.P., Seles, B.M.R.P., Fiorini, P.D.C., et al., 2018. The role of new product development in underpinning the circular economy: A systematic review and integrative framework. Management Decision. 57(4), 840-862. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2018-0782 [56]Bacova, M., Bohm, K., Guitton, M., et al., 2016. Pathways to a Circular Economy in Cities and Regions [Internet]. Available from: https://espon.public.lu/dam-assets/publications/policy-brief-oncircular-economy-final.pdf [57]Sutcliffe, T.E., Ortega Alvarado, I.A., 2021. Domesticating circular economy? An enquiry into Norwegian subnational authorities’ process of implementing circularity. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 23(6), 752-765. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2021.1910016 [58]Burns, H., 2018. Thematic analysis: Transformative sustainability education. Journal of Transformative Education. 16(4), 277-279. [59]The Free Repair Guide for Everything written by Everyone [Internet]. iFixit; 2016. Available from: https://www.ifixit.com/ [60]Nunes, B. T., Pollard, S. J., Burgess, P. J., et al., 2018. University contributions to the circular economy: Professing the hidden curriculum. Sustainability. 10(8), 2719. [61]Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A., 2016. Research methods for business students. Pearson: England. [62]Cresswell, J.W., 2009. Research design: Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications: Los Angeles. [63]Kothari, C.R., 2004. Research methodology: Methods and techniques, 2nd revised edition. New Age International Limited Publishers: New Delhi.