https://doi.org/10.24928/2024/0230

Assessing Environmental Impacts: A Case Study of Circular Economy on Construction Materials

Michelle Diaz¹, Mauricio Neyra² & Sulyn Gomez³

¹Student, School of Environmental Engineering, National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-7711-1695
²Graduate Student, School of Civil Engineering, National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru, [email protected], orcid.org/0009-0007-7379-5798
³Quality Leader, DPR Construction, Redwood City, USA, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-2367-9880

Abstract

The construction sector is a major contributor to environmental degradation, accounting for a significant portion of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The traditional linear construction practices follow a “take-make-dispose” model, which entail the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing of construction products, their use in building projects, and ultimately the disposal of waste generated throughout construction projects. Both Lean and Circular Economy (CE) are philosophies that seek to minimize waste. While Lean promotes value through the reduction of production waste during design and construction, CE proposes the reduction of material waste by promoting closed-loop material flows throughout the construction lifecycle. Applying Lean and CE principles to construction waste management shows promise in reducing negative environmental impacts. Despite increasing interest, a comprehensive assessment of CE’s impact in this context has not been thoroughly presented yet. This study aims to close this gap by analyzing the environmental performance within a case adopting CE principles using Life Cycle Assessment information. Results indicate significant reductions in Global Warming and Ecotoxicity using CE. Meanwhile, Lean provides another approach to waste reduction by avoiding the generation of environmental waste through production control. This research underscores CE’s efficacy in mitigating negative environmental impacts while identifying areas for further optimization.

Keywords

Lean, Circular Economy, Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Impact, Waste.

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Reference

Diaz, M. , Neyra, M. & Gomez, S. 2024. Assessing Environmental Impacts: A Case Study of Circular Economy on Construction Materials, Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 32) , 1074-1085. doi.org/10.24928/2024/0230

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