Refining Circular Economy Practices Through Cooperation Between the Developer and the Contractor : Case Study
Murden, Marissa (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303274239
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303274239
Tiivistelmä
With circular economy becoming globally ascendant, actors in all industries are compelled to assess and develop their practices towards sustainability. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationship between the commissioner’s contractors and circular economy. The objective was to observe the factors preventing possible development or implementation of circular economy practices.
The literature in this research presents the reader with common terminology and practices of circular economy as well as specificities of circular economy in the construction sector. The literature is used to introduce the reader to the lifecycle of construction through the view of circular economy. In the third theoretical section, environmental certifications for construction were studied, and the significance of circular economy in the certification’s assessment criteria is presented.
The subject was examined through conducting thematic interviews with contractors. Thereafter, the data was analyzed with grounded theory. Two hypotheses were drawn regarding the core issues preventing circular economy from taking place. The insights gained from the interviews were divided into two categories: workable and informational insights. The workable insights were further explored in a workshop hosted for the commissioner’s employees. The findings were visualized with a process blueprint as well an informational insight table.
The main factors presented in the findings outline the lack of demand and set measurement methods, as well as the circular operating models on average being more resource intensive. To offset the asymmetry, the commissioner could determine set indicators for the valuation of circular economy, including testing budgets for innovation as well as developing working models in which the contractor is included from an earlier stage.
The literature in this research presents the reader with common terminology and practices of circular economy as well as specificities of circular economy in the construction sector. The literature is used to introduce the reader to the lifecycle of construction through the view of circular economy. In the third theoretical section, environmental certifications for construction were studied, and the significance of circular economy in the certification’s assessment criteria is presented.
The subject was examined through conducting thematic interviews with contractors. Thereafter, the data was analyzed with grounded theory. Two hypotheses were drawn regarding the core issues preventing circular economy from taking place. The insights gained from the interviews were divided into two categories: workable and informational insights. The workable insights were further explored in a workshop hosted for the commissioner’s employees. The findings were visualized with a process blueprint as well an informational insight table.
The main factors presented in the findings outline the lack of demand and set measurement methods, as well as the circular operating models on average being more resource intensive. To offset the asymmetry, the commissioner could determine set indicators for the valuation of circular economy, including testing budgets for innovation as well as developing working models in which the contractor is included from an earlier stage.