Exploring material circularity opportunities for a construction-SME on small-scale projects in Ireland

Abstract

In Ireland, there has been a clear connection between construction output and construction and demolition waste production, with estimates of 17.8 million tonnes (Mt) in 2007 dropping to just over 3 Mt in 2014, which has mirrored the dramatic economic growth and subsequent sharp decline over that period. During this time of economy recovery and improving construction output, there is a unique opportunity to decouple this connection and rethink the traditional linear supply chain model to transition the sector towards nurturing resource efficiency and material circularity. This study explored opportunities to embed these principles within a construction-SME business model using an applied action research framework on selected case studies. A series of interventions (procurement protocols, sub-contractor engagement, auditing and benchmarking, source segregation and waste tracking) were piloted on two new-build construction projects ranging in a value from €1.5 to €2.8 million over a two-year period (2016-2018). The research is ongoing but initial results indicate that opportunities do exist in procurement/tendering, pre-construction planning and construction phases to improve resource efficiency practice and introduce material circularity principles into traditional construction-SME supply chain processes.