Circularity in the Built Environment

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, the built environment operates in a linear way where large amounts of nonrenewable resources are used, particularly in the urban areas of the world. Recent estimates indicate that over half of the world’s population will live in urban areas, whilst providing over 80 percent of the global GDP generation.

The impact of the buildings and construction sector was recognised as a key contributor to global emissions for the first time at the Conference of Parties meeting, COP 21 in Paris in 2015. Several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) directly impact on the buildings and construction sector. Circular approaches support the goals of the SDGs and arise from the same foundations underpinning the SDGs.

Investment opportunities in the built environment for designing and constructing buildings based on circular principles, closing the loop on building construction and demolition materials, and building circular cities provide new opportunities. Aside from creating jobs, application of the circular principles supports resilience, reduces resource use and lowers overall emissions.

This Special Edition focuses on circularity in the built environment. Papers contributing to knowledge in this emerging area are welcomed. Papers may focus on application of principles of circularity, business models, case studies/best practice examples across various phases of the built cycle including the supply chain or new forms of shared services.

Prof. Dr. Usha Iyer-Raniga
Guest Editor

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