Resource Management and Materials Circularity Protocol for the Irish construction sector
Overview
Country:
Ireland
Level of Outreach:
National
Field of Interest(s):
Circular Economy
Supported By:
National Agency
Description
The aim of this proposal is to develop a Resource Management and Materials Circularity Protocol for the construction sector based on evidence-based practice focusing on the waste hierarchy of prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, energy recovery and disposal.
Project/Initiative Data
Start Date:
20190114
End Date:
20210128
Total Budget:
€99,950.00
Partners
Collaborating with a local SME-contractor, Carey Building Contractors
Aim
This project aims to prepare a best practice protocol, which will provide a holistic focus on resource management and material circularity (removing waste from the vocabulary) using an evidence-based practice approach. This will design, test and evaluate a series of resource management and material circularity strategies including: recovery and recycling potential of demolition and deconstruction materials; waste efficient procurement and materials optimisation initiatives in the pre-construction and construction phases; material logistics planning (including reverse logistics); source segregation based on lifecycle impact and existing market conditions; tracking of materials off-site to their final-end use to measure impact i.e. transport, processing, downcycling/upcycling etc.
Target Groups:
All stakeholder groups in industry and higher education programmes related to the built environment.
Exchange of Experiences:
Collaboration between GMIT and Carey Building Contractors. Wider dissemination of findings to all industry stakeholders and conferences.
Outcomes
Results of the project/initiative:
Design, test and evaluate a series of resource management and material circularity strategies.
Impacts/Outcomes 2:
Explore opportunities to embed circularity strategies into organisational business models.
Impacts/Outcomes 3:
Harness the human and intellectual capital of the participating organisations and supply chain to develop an innovative training and behavioural change programme.
Policy/Initiative
Skills Gaps:
Explore pro-circular knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviours of construction site personnel and built environment students in higher education
Mis-Matching of Skills:
Embed resource management and material circularity into existing business model frameworks and higher education curriculum.
Skills Shortages:
Significant gap in pro-circular knowledge and skills that provides an opportunity to develop a research-informed and evidence-based approach to providing learning opportunities across the higher education sector and the construction sector.
Recommendations
Training:
Develop circular economy learning resources that will be applicable in a real-world context i.e. on site and in the classroom.
Career Moves:
Improved employability of higher education students and addressing the need to address competency shortages related to circular economy practice in the construction sector.
Mobility:
Opportunities to collaborate nationally and internationally with industry and the higher education sector.
Other EQF-Level:
Preparation of resource management and material circularity protocol for industry that will be transferable into the higher education curriculum.
Transfer in Europe:
Opportunites to do so.
Other:
General improvement of the construction sector image with increased attractiveness and competitiveness
Organisation & Contact
Organisation:
Public
| Name of Organisation | Galway and Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT |
|---|---|
| Address | Department of Building and Civil Engineering, Dublin Road |
| Zip/City | Galway H91 TRNW |
| Telephone | 091742161 |
| Coordinator E-Mail | Mark.Kelly@gmit.ie</a> |
| Coordinator Website | https://www.gmit.ie/</a> |
| Name of the Project/Initiative Coordinator | Mark Kelly |
| Additional Contact | |
|---|---|
| Contact Phone | 091742161 |
| Contact Email | Mark.Kelly@gmit.ie</a> |