Short answer
Rethink product-as-a-service models, material passports, and take-back schemes to facilitate the reuse and recycling of building materials.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (2017)
- Method
- Case Study Analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Adopting circular business models is crucial for construction companies to effectively implement resource-saving strategies and reduce waste, thereby enhancing overall building sustainability. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Lund University Publications (Lund University). Using Case study analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Rethink product-as-a-service models, material passports, and take-back schemes to facilitate the reuse and recycling of building materials.
Circular Business Models Unlock Resource Efficiency in Construction
Adopting circular business models is crucial for construction companies to effectively implement resource-saving strategies and reduce waste, thereby enhancing overall building sustainability.
Lund University Publications (Lund University) · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Front-running companies are innovating their business models to embed circular strategies.
- 02Successful implementation requires systemic innovation across the value chain.
- 03Circular strategies focus on prolonging product life and closing material flows.
Application
Design takeaway
Rethink product-as-a-service models, material passports, and take-back schemes to facilitate the reuse and recycling of building materials.
How to apply
When designing new buildings or renovations, explore opportunities to specify materials that are designed for circularity and investigate partnerships with suppliers who offer take-back or refurbishment services.
Project actions
- 01Consider the end-of-life of your designed product from the beginning.
- 02Research business models that support product longevity and material recovery.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Focuses on practical business model innovation in a key sector.
- +Connects to broader sustainability goals (SDGs).
Limitations
It can be challenging to gather detailed information on the internal business model innovations of companies.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the findings would depend on the depth of the case studies and the rigor of the business model analysis. Reliability could be enhanced through triangulation of data from multiple sources within each company.
Think critically
How can designers actively influence or collaborate with businesses to adopt more circular business models for their products?
Design Principles
"Design for Disassembly and Reuse: Prioritize materials and construction methods that allow for easy deconstruction and subsequent reuse or recycling of components and materials."
As buildings become more energy-efficient in their operational phase, the environmental impact of embodied energy and raw materials becomes increasingly significant. Circular business models provide a framework for companies to integrate strategies that extend product life and close material loops, moving beyond linear 'take-make-dispose' approaches.
What This Means for Your Design
To make buildings more eco-friendly, companies need to change how they do business, not just what materials they use. This means designing things so they can be used again or recycled easily.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when discussing the broader business context and systemic changes required for sustainable design solutions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that successful implementation of circular strategies in the construction sector necessitates systemic innovation, particularly through the adaptation of business models. Companies that are front-runners in this area are actively developing new ways of doing business that embed circular principles, such as prolonging product life and closing material flows, thereby enhancing resource efficiency and reducing waste generation.
Source
Lund University Publications (Lund University)
Applying circular economy principles to building materials : Front-running companies’ business model innovation in the value chain for buildings
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about circular business models unlock resource efficiency in construction?
- Rethink product-as-a-service models, material passports, and take-back schemes to facilitate the reuse and recycling of building materials. Evidence: Lund University Publications (Lund University) (2017).
- Why does "Circular Business Models Unlock Resource Efficiency in Construction" matter for design?
- As buildings become more energy-efficient in their operational phase, the environmental impact of embodied energy and raw materials becomes increasingly significant. Circular business models provide a framework for companies to integrate strategies that extend product life and close material loops, moving beyond linear 'take-make-dispose' approaches.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Rethink product-as-a-service models, material passports, and take-back schemes to facilitate the reuse and recycling of building materials.
- What were the main findings?
- Front-running companies are innovating their business models to embed circular strategies.. Successful implementation requires systemic innovation across the value chain.. Circular strategies focus on prolonging product life and closing material flows.
- What research method was used?
- Case Study Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Lund University Publications (Lund University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing new buildings or renovations, explore opportunities to specify materials that are designed for circularity and investigate partnerships with suppliers who offer take-back or refurbishment services.
- What are the limitations?
- The study may focus on specific types of buildings or geographical regions, and the long-term economic viability of these models might require further investigation.