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Ababio, Benjamin Kwaku; Lu, Weisheng
doi: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2135750pmid: N/A
Abstract Growing environmental concerns and the threat of resource scarcity have heightened interest in the Circular Economy (CE) concept over the last decade. Nonetheless, implementation of CE practice within the built environment has taken a slower pace in comparison with other industries. A clear understanding of systemic and multilevel aspects of CE, especially in relation to barriers that hinder practical implementation, appears to be lacking within the sector. In light of this, the study aims to examine the existing body of knowledge to elucidate, from a systemic perspective, CE barriers across various levels in construction. To achieve this purpose, a scientometric analysis is used to examine 581 bibliometric-searched filtered articles on CE implementation barriers in construction. Key issues, drivers and potential resolutions are explained using content analysis of specific pre-determined articles. The study finds that critical system levels of CE implementation (micro, meso, and macro levels) are interrelated. However, barriers and drivers at each individual level may differ. Additionally, this paper categorises key barriers to implementing CE-aligned strategies into five main themes, namely: definition and theory misconception, political and legislative, social and cultural, financial and economic, and technological barriers. Based on these, four cross-cutting enablers are established to drive the transition from linear to circular economy in construction. The findings of this study highlight deficiencies and challenges in current research while providing a path for future studies. It provides a convenient point of reference for practitioners, policy makers, and research and development (R&D) institutions on CE implementation within the industry. Lastly, the study raises public awareness on CE barriers and guides the AEC sector to develop intellectual capital to overcome them.
Coenen, Tom B. J.; Visscher, Klaasjan; Volker, Leentje
doi: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2151024pmid: N/A
Abstract Due to the large use of resources and waste generation, the transition to a circular economy (CE) has become a major sustainability-related topic in construction. Intentions to achieve circularity are shared widely, but developments are slow in practice. This study identifies systemic barriers to the circularity transition from a social-technical systemic perspective. We used the Mission-oriented Innovation System (MIS) framework to provide insights into the problems and potential solutions underlying the circularity mission, the structure of the system and the system dynamics. Based on the analysis of a wide range of policy documents and twenty in-depth interviews with stakeholders in the Dutch infrastructure sector, three vicious cycles were identified that form persistent barriers to the transition: (1) the CE contestation cycle given the contested nature of the circularity mission; (2) the knowledge diffusion cycle given the need to adopt and diffuse knowledge; and (3) the innovation cycle when it comes to procuring and upscaling circular innovations. These barriers all relate to processual, organizational and institutional challenges rather than to technological ones. This indicates that construction managers, policymakers and researchers in the field of infrastructure circularity should shift their focus from specific circular solutions to creating appropriate conditions for changing current and introducing novel processes that facilitate circular ways of doing things.
Wang, Zhenshuang; Han, Feng; Xia, Bo; Liu, Jingkuang; Zhang, Chengyi
doi: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2137882pmid: N/A
Abstract The reduction of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) has a significant impact on the sustainable development of the construction industry. Differentiated reduction management policy is the key to C&DW reduction management. Based on the calculation of C&DW generation, this paper studies the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics, heterogeneity of C&DW with economic growth, and driving factors of C&DW generation in 30 provinces from 2007 to 2018 by using the methods of standard deviation ellipse model, environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and geographic detector. The results show that the C&DW generation in China shows an increasing trend, “low in the west, and high in the East” and “high in the South and low in the north,” with significant regional differences. The temporal and spatial distribution of C&DW generation shows a “northeast southwest” trend, and this pattern has a trend of changing to “due north - due south”; C&DW generation increases with the economic growth, and the proportion of “inverted N” provinces is large, which is in the stage of continuous increase in the C&DW generation; The economic output effect of construction industry is the most important factor affecting the spatial distribution of C&DW generation. The impact of C&DW generation in each province has shifted from the single core driving effect of economy to the common guidance of economy and environmental protection. The interaction of different factors has a greater impact on the spatial distribution of C&DW generation than that of each factor alone.
Gremyr, Ida; Bäckstrand, Jenny; Fredriksson, Anna; Gatenholm, Gabriella; Halldórsson, Árni
doi: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2130384pmid: N/A
Abstract Construction logistics services can, if implemented with high quality, positively impact both efficiency and sustainability of construction projects. However, present quality management frameworks have not been developed for temporary multi-actor contexts, such as construction, which is largely lacking industrialised processes. Still, construction logistics service providers provide service offerings to temporary settings and could thus benefit from a service quality perspective. Applying this perspective, this study supports the quality improvement of construction logistics services by using a service modularity approach to identify the services to prioritise for improvement. Building on interviews, concept mapping, and a service blueprint of a construction logistics setup, a priority matrix for improvements is developed. The first step in using this matrix is to operationalise the construction logistics setup in modules based on blueprinting. Second, the matrix evaluates the modules against nine empirically derived improvement enablers such as practices and forums for learning, and data measurements enabling the comparison and follow-up of construction logistics services. In conclusion, the priority matrix helps focus the improvements on modules with high likelihood of successful improvements. Improvements that can become sustained over time through the reuse of standardised modules in upcoming projects.
Nilsson Vestola, Emilia; Eriksson, Per Erik
doi: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2140815pmid: N/A
Abstract Inter-organizational collaboration within the construction industry consists of both engineered and emerged aspects. Engineered formal practices and emerged informal practices interplay in their influence on the overall success of client-contractor collaboration. This interplay has been recognized but is still understudied and requires further research to increase the understanding of how the interplay functions. To enable the study of the emerged aspects of collaboration we applied a practice-based approach in a longitudinal multiple case study, including four projects for operation and maintenance of road infrastructure. This paper contributes to the literature on collaboration in construction by providing detailed examples of how the interplay between engineered and emerged collaboration may unfold, showing how formal and informal practices contribute to the development of vicious and virtuous cycles of collaboration. Furthermore, our findings indicate that a virtuous cycle of only informal practices can become a weakness if unexpected problems occur. Project managers should therefore be encouraged to implement formal collaboration, even if the project team is already in a virtuous cycle of informal collaboration.
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