Circular economy in construction aided by closed-loop thinking
The construction industry must adopt “closed-loop thinking” to achieve sustainability and net-zero carbon emissions. A circular economy goes beyond the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) by redesigning buildings to minimize waste and reliance on finite resources. Construction significantly contributes to carbon emissions and environmental degradation due to material over-extraction. To transition, the industry should follow key principles: designing for longevity with durable materials, prioritizing occupant wellbeing, enabling easy refurbishment, and facilitating material recovery. Tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) can aid in maintaining and repurposing materials. While full circularity is a long-term goal, small steps, like reusable pallets, illustrate how supply chains can adopt sustainable practices. The shift will require collaboration across the industry to rethink design, material use, and manufacturing. The sooner these changes are implemented, the faster sustainable construction will become the norm. Read more about this idea.
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