Cradle-to-Cradle opportunities during the construction phase of small-to-medium sized projects
Overview
Country:
Ireland
Level of Outreach:
National
Field of Interest(s):
Circular Economy
Supported By:
National Agency
Description
The proposed research project aims to explore cradle-to-cradle and material loop opportunities during the tendering, procurement, pre-construction planning and construction phases on a number of suitable case studies.
Project/Initiative Data
Start Date:
20170116
End Date:
20200128
Total Budget:
€79,650
Partners
Collaborating with a local SME-contractor, Carey Building Contractors
Aim
The project aims to develop a pragmatic and evidence-based toolkit for construction SMEs who wish to explore cradle-to-cradle opportunities across their supply chains.
Target Groups:
All stakeholder groups in industry and higher education programe related to the built environment.
Exchange of Experiences:
Collaboration between GMIT and Carey Building Contractors. Wider dissemination of findings to all industry stakeholders.
Outcomes
Results of the project/initiative:
Identify exsiting supply chain arrangements related to waste management, resource efficiency and material circularity.
Impacts/Outcomes 2:
Identify and critically evaluate cradle-to-cradle best practice applications in the construction sector.
Impacts/Outcomes 3:
Explore opportunities within traditional supply chain arrangements to design and pilot cradle-to-cradle initiatives, measuring impact on selected case studies.
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 cradle-to-cradle thinking into educational provision in higher education and on-site using existing structures i.e. embed into existing sustainability-related modules, site inductions, site toolbox talks etc.
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.
Recommendations
Training:
Develop cradle-to-cradle 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 environmental good practice on site.
Mobility:
Opportunities to collaborate nationally and internationally with industry and the higher education sector.
Other EQF-Level:
Preparation of cradle-to-cradle toolkit 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> |
| Additional Contact | |
|---|---|
| Contact Phone | 091742161 |
| Contact Email | Mark.Kelly@gmit.ie</a> |