The construction sector's waste production is a glaring issue that demands immediate attention. In 2018 alone, the United States generated 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste, while the European Union reported 820 million tons and China exceeded 2 billion tons annually. This significant resource loss highlights the linear economy's inefficiency and the need for a circular model. A team of MIT researchers is working to understand stakeholders' perceptions and quantify their willingness to pay for circular transition. As lead author Juliana Berglund-Brown explains, "This paper acts as an initial endeavor into understanding what the industry may be motivated by, and how integration of stakeholder motivations could lead to greater adoption."

Unlocking the Potential of Circularity in Construction

Stakeholder Perceptions and Barriers

Three different stakeholder groups - material suppliers, design and construction teams, and real estate developers - were surveyed. Despite growing awareness of reuse practice, circular practices have not been implemented at scale. Perceived barriers differ based on industry role. Design and construction teams are concerned about lack of client interest and standardized structural assessment methods. Material suppliers face logistics complexity and supply uncertainty. Real estate developers are mainly worried about higher costs and structural assessment. However, respondents expressed willingness to absorb higher costs, with developers ready to pay an average of 9.6 percent more for a 52.9 percent reduction in embodied carbon. All stakeholders favor incentives like tax exemptions.

For example, a real estate developer might initially be hesitant due to higher costs, but when presented with the potential long-term savings and environmental benefits, they may become more receptive. Material suppliers, on the other hand, need to address logistics and supply issues to make circular practices more feasible.

Next Steps to Encourage Circularity

The findings emphasize the need for more communication between design teams and developers and for exploring solutions to practical challenges. Berglund-Brown notes that circularity offers opportunities for value creation and profit. "If people are motivated by cost, let's provide a cost incentive or establish strategies," she says.

For instance, municipalities could introduce ordinances requiring buildings to be deconstructed, allowing components to be reused. This would shift the supply chain towards reprocessing building materials and reduce waste. Policy also plays a crucial role in motivating change. Policies like Local Law 97 in New York City and the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance in Boston have led to significant strides in low operational carbon building design.

Innovations Challenging the Status Quo

MIT researchers are not afraid to disrupt the status quo. One such innovation is Pixelframe, a smart kit of parts for modular concrete reuse. Each interlocking precast concrete module, called a Pixel, has a material passport for tracking through its life cycles. This system allows building elements to be disassembled and rebuilt several times, maintaining material efficiency and versatility.

For example, in a housing project, Pixelframe can be used to build different sections that can be easily disassembled and reused in other projects. This not only reduces waste but also offers flexibility in design and construction. Mueller's work shows that circularity is technically and logistically feasible at the scale of the built environment.

Pixelframe has received significant support, including a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for commercialization. Additionally, the Biden administration's climate legislation has provided further support for circular innovation.

With these initiatives, there is a growing momentum towards a circular economy in the construction sector. As Berglund-Brown encourages, "To any practitioners reading this who are interested in getting involved - please reach out."