Implementing circularity in the construction process: a case study examining the reorganization of multi-actor environment and the decision-making process

Abstract

Circularity aims to make waste obsolete by both closing and narrowing resource loops and by extending the lifespan of materials and products. This fundamentally different approach to construction practices necessitates a completely different method of organising the construction process. The rounds of decision-making undertaken by different actors at particular moments in the construction process have a significant role to play in this regard. Consequently, this research aims to analyse current circular practices for both the multi-actor environment and the decision-making process. An analytical framework is developed based on the theoreticallyinformed assumption that actors are responsible for decision-making and that circular strategies are an effective means through which to integrate circularity within the construction process. This analytical framework is applied to three circular building cases in the Netherlands, by drawing upon stakeholder interviews and documentation. It can be concluded that: some conventional actors have acquired knowledge on circularity; and that there is an emergent group of expert actors specialising in circularity. Both types of actors are a prerequisite for implementing circular strategies at both the beginning and end-of-life phase of a building; and should be involved early on to influence decision-making on circularity, especially concerning the longlived layers of a building.

Aligning actors in a road renovation project by a co-design process: the road to circularity?

“…The circular process journey shows extra interactive elements, which are not included in the traditional process. In line with the experiences of Gerding et al [12] in their case study research, the pre-construction phase of the sustainable process journey focuses on the reuse and redistribution of materials, bringing the GBI platform in position within the municipality as a project passport, and by mapping and evaluating the current situation within the project itself.…”

“…When the execution of a project has started, changes in the design can result in significantly higher costs, than when these changes had been taken in an early stage of the design process. This last principle seems to be relevant to traditional, as well as circular construction processes; as Gerding et al [12] put it "early decision making appears to be a key determining factor in the success of a circular building project". In their research on how circularity was implemented in three Dutch construction processes, they especially paid attention to which actors should be involved in the design-making process to ensure the circular use of materials and products, which brings us to the next section.…”

“…In a circular project, it is, according to [12], greatly beneficial to have involved conventional actors who have acquired knowledge of circularity, and expert actors in the roles of advisor, consultant and assessor. Based on their case study and their knowledge of the construction industry, Gerding et al [12] think it could also benefit the circular ambitions of a project to have actors on board, such as circularity experts, dismantlers, investors, and reclamation experts.…”

“…In a circular project, it is, according to [12], greatly beneficial to have involved conventional actors who have acquired knowledge of circularity, and expert actors in the roles of advisor, consultant and assessor. Based on their case study and their knowledge of the construction industry, Gerding et al [12] think it could also benefit the circular ambitions of a project to have actors on board, such as circularity experts, dismantlers, investors, and reclamation experts. The centrally positioned actors in the network of a construction project can accelerate the implementation of circularity by exploiting their position to acquire support from others and mobilize the entire network of stakeholders linked to a building project [12].…”

“…Different from the renovation project of Gerding et al [12] is the exclusion of the contractor during the pre-construction phase in the circular process journey. In addition, the prevention and reduction of material use, recycling, and energy recovery do not seem to have been included in the process journey.…”