- The circular economy (CE) emphasises the importance of keeping materials in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, and recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their service life. In the construction industry, this can be achieved by rethinking and reducing consumption, intensifying product use, reducing waste and by-product and improving production efficiency.
- Innovations such as green cement, which incorporates recycled construction and demolition waste to reduce carbon footprint, are a step towards circular construction. Such materials can help the industry shift from a traditional linear economic model of “take, make, dispose” to a more sustainable practice that supports the CE’s principles of resource circularity in closed-loop systems. This approach not only contributes to sustainable development but also helps tackle complex industry challenges like fluctuating raw material prices, material shortages, and the demand for urbanisation.
- Rubberised concrete is another innovative material that contributes to the circular economy in civil construction by repurposing waste materials, specifically used tyres. Researchers at QUT University have successfully replaced traditional aggregates in concrete—such as gravel and crushed rock—with rubber from discarded tyres. This new type of concrete meets building codes and promises significant environmental benefits by reducing natural resource consumption and addressing waste tyre disposal challenges.