Building Circularity 4.0: What are the first steps for your industry?

This Building Circularity 4.0: First Steps to Adoption framework aims to promote circularity and sustainability in buildings and construction. By integrating circularity in the building industry, stakeholders and communities can realise economic and social benefits. This framework suggests actions each player in the building supply chain can take to embed circular economy principles in their operations and links to further resources.

This tool was developed in collaboration with the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group.

Local Government
State Government
Federal Government
Planning Authorities
Regulatory Bodies
Peak Industry Groups
Trade Unions
Renewables Sector
Developers
Not-for-profit Community Housing Providers (CHP)
Institutional Investors
Insurance providers
Banks
Architects
Certifiers/Building Surveyors
Quantity Surveyors
Planners
Engineers (all)
Component/System Manufacturers
Logistics Companies
Demolition Companies
Material Suppliers
Waste Removal Companies
Product Manufacturers
Builders / General Contractors
Project / Construction Managers
Offsite manufacturers
Skilled Trades
Body Corporates
Clients
Building Owners
Asset Managers
Facilities Managers
Leasing Agents
Real Estate Agents
Government / Policy
Representative Bodies
Finance & Property
Consultants
Supply Chain
Construction
Owners & End Users

Local Government

First Step

Establish requirements for waste and demolition plans that include screening, mapping and sorting valuable building products for further reuse, and provide guidelines and training for demolition companies.

References (5)

State Government

First Step

Demand an ‘end-of-life plan’ for building and their physical contents at point of building consent.

References (8)

Federal Government

First Step

Create a roadmap to guide all actors within the building lifecycle to implement circularity.

Planning Authorities

First Step

Change ‘demolition’ applications to ‘re-use, adaptation, and end of life’ applications.

References (1)

Regulatory Bodies

First Step

Introduce code requirement to document and publish material and component origins, characteristics and methods of disassembly as part of the building certification process.

References (1)

Peak Industry Groups

First Step

Understand the material impact of your industry segment, develop a circularity plan in collaboration with your members and issue guidance documents.

References (4)

Trade Unions

First Step

Understand the material impact of your members’ work and advocacy, develop a circularity plan to help them transition to a circular economy, and develop upskilling courses to facilitate the transition.

References (4)

Renewables Sector

First Step

Facilitate whole of life reuse and recycling to consider deconstruction at end of life.

References (1)

Developers

First Step

Undertake project feasibility studies that include whole-of-life cost and operational (user) benefits of sustainable design, to increase returns and reduce environmental impact.

References (5)

Not-for-profit Community Housing Providers (CHP)

First Step

Introduce requirement as part of community housing provider (CHP) grant schemes to provide for lifecycle planning for eventual disassembly and end-of-life of assets.

References (4)

Institutional Investors

First Step

Implement investment policies that require lifecycle assessment (LCA) and circular planning practices in funded projects.

References (1)

Insurance providers

First Step

Communicate risks to clients and insured parties of not adopting circular principles (e.g. ‘stranded assets’). 

References (3)

Banks

First Step

Implement lending practices that require lifecycle assessment (LCA) and circular planning practices in funded projects. 

References (8)

Architects

First Step

Where building reuse is not an option, consider building design with a ‘design-for-disassembly’ process in mind to enable easier reuse of material, components and systems.

References (7)

Certifiers/Building Surveyors

First Step

Ensure you have tools to implement net zero and circular design by making data-based design decision. Tools might include lifecycle assessment (LCA) software. 

References (1)

Quantity Surveyors

First Step

Facilitate quantification and information management in the design and documentation of materials, component origins, characteristics and methods of disassembly.

References (3)

Planners

First Step

Provide a report to governments, regulators and clients that ensures an appropriate circular strategy is in place for the land use and development type.

References (6)

Engineers (all)

First Step

Ensure you have tools to implement net zero and circular design by making data-based design decision. Tools might include lifecycle assessment (LCA) software. 

References (6)

Component/System Manufacturers

First Step

Consider using used and recyclable materials, and minimise glues and other fixing or manufacturing processes that restrict the future reuse or recycling of parts and assemblies.

References (3)

Logistics Companies

First Step

Switch short haul delivery vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) as a first step to full fleet transition. 

References (2)

Demolition Companies

First Step

Identify methods to better retain ‘whole products’, separate parts and individual components that can be reused and recycled during demolition.

References (3)

  • Transformation towards a circular economy in the Australian construction and demolition waste management system (Shooshtarian et al, 2022)
  • Pathways to circular construction: An integrated management of construction and demolition waste for resource recovery (Ghaffar, Burman & Braimah, 2020)

Material Suppliers

First Step

Provide detail information about materials, such as composition, origin, treatment processes and adherence to international standards. This crucial data could be managed as part of a ‘material passport’.

References (3)

Waste Removal Companies

First Step

Encourage the separation of waste and employ waste collection strategies that focus on the use and reuse of ‘waste’ materials.

References (2)

Product Manufacturers

First Step

Initiate take-back schemes of products at the end of their life cycle. 

References (1)

Builders / General Contractors

First Step

Identify one part of your operation that could be switched to an offsite procurement model (i.e. bathroom pods or cassette floors and walls) with a DfMA mindset.

References (1)

Project / Construction Managers

First Step

Ensure that building site waste is separated and that recovery systems are on all job sites and are utilised.

References (1)

Offsite manufacturers

First Step

Develop components that enable disassembly and reclamation at end of use.

References (2)

Skilled Trades

First Step

Refer to guidance from your respective regulator/union/government source to ensure compliance. Additionally, consider using mechanical connections, sleeves, flashings, and couplings instead of adhesives whereever possible, to enable eventual disassembly/reclamation.

References (2)

Body Corporates

First Step

Initiate building upgrades to improve sustainability with measures for energy, water, waste and biodiversity.

References (1)

  • Impact of energy efficiency measures on the economic value of buildings (Popescu et al., 2012)

Clients

First Step

Demand your consultant teams present you with long term operational and lifecycle costings of projects that include maintenance and end-of-life scenarios.

References (2)

Building Owners

First Step

Owners demand a report outlining the intended lifespan of a building and how it has been designed to be flexible, adaptable and minimise maintenance.

References (4)

Asset Managers

First Step

Ensure assets are designed for minimal repair and eventual reuse.

References (2)

Facilities Managers

First Step

Promote reuse of assets and equipment and create plans and scenarios that can help extend the lifespan of assets and equipment.

References (2)

Leasing Agents

First Step

Develop new contractual means for ownership that comprise the transfer of materials within a building (e.g. part of ‘material passport’ solution).

References (3)

Real Estate Agents

First Step

Work with asset owners and ratings organisations to grow awareness and enable incentives that reward the use of circular principles.

References (3)

Authors and Contributors

Authors & Contributors

Prof. Mathew Aitchison CEO Building 4.0 CRC Author/Editor
Prof. Chris Knapp Research Director Building 4.0 CRC Author/Editor
Dominique Hes Zero Carbon Buildings Lead City of Melbourne  Author/Editor
Dr Duncan Maxwell Director, Future Building Initiative (Monash University) & Research Program Lead (Building 4.0 CRC) Monash University / Building 4.0 CRC Co-Author
Prof. Tuan Ngo Professor and Program Leader (Building 4.0 CRC) & Research Director (ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefab Housing) Building 4.0 CRC / ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefab Housing Co-Author
Dr Phil Christopher Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Melbourne / Building 4.0 CRC Co-Author
Dr Sara Omrani Senior Lecturer in Virtual Design & Construction QUT / Building 4.0 CRC Co-Author
Dr Dane Miller Associate Professor (Bond University) / Lighthouse Projects Manager (Building 4.0 CRC) Bond University / Building 4.0 CRC Co-Author
Ross Digby Associate Director: Centre for Energy & Infrastructure (Holmesglen) / Skills and Training Lead (Building 4.0 CRC) Holmesglen / Building 4.0 CRC Co-Author
Dr Priyadashani Das Postdoctoral Research Fellow Monash University / Building 4.0 CRC Co-Author
Dr Siddhesh Godbole Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Structural Engineer Cerecon / Building 4.0 CRC / University of Melbourne Co-Author
Corrie Williams Director, Collaboration and Innovation Centre Master Builders Association Victoria Co-Author
Joana Correia Policy Advisor Master Builders Association Victoria Co-Author
Phil Alviano Sustainability Advisor Master Builders Association Victoria Co-Author
Megan Peacock Executive Director Public Affairs Master Builders Association Victoria Co-Author
Tony Bugeja Policy and Technical Manager Master Builders Association Victoria Co-Author
Prof. Leonie Barner Director – Centre for a Waste-Free World QUT Co-Author
Dr Judith Herbst Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry & Physics QUT Co-Author
Karl-Heinz Weiss Founder & Director Weiss Insights Co-Author
Daryl Patterson Chief Product Officer Lendlease Co-Author
Dr Victor Bunster Lecturer in Architecture, Technology, Construction and Fabrication Monash University Co-Author
Brendan Pope Head of Design & Innovation Fleetwood Building Solutions Co-Author
Tim Butler MX Studio Products Lead Lendlease Digital Co-Author
Prof. Usha Iyer-Raniga Professor RMIT / Lead/Co Lead, Sustainable Buildings and Construction, United Nations 10YFP RMIT / United Nations Co-Author
Bryon Price Strategic Development Director A.G Coombs Group Co-Author

How to use this tool

Click on your piece of the pie to see what your recommended first steps for circularity are, along with resources to support you. This tool has been built with the intention to evolve through input from the Industry. Please use the Feedback tab to let us know if you want anything added or amended.

Search Building 4.0 CRC

Share feedback