Circularity in Capital Projects: Innovations and Opportunities

Construction is one of the world’s largest resource consumers and waste generators, responsible for more than 50% of domestic materials consumption. Many companies are taking advantage of a long-term reduction in resource consumption to realize a cost-saving opportunity. They are finding that shifting toward a circular economy (CE) paradigm (i.e., reduce, reuse, and recycle) creates opportunities to generate new value, as well as to burnish their reputations and support marketing goals.

CII created Research Team 380 (RT-380) to develop knowledge and tools so CII members can successfully pursue the greatest opportunities, effective value propositions, and key business models for driving a circular economy in capital projects. CE aims to use materials more efficiently, for longer, and in closed loops as part of the transformation to a more sustainable and competitive economy. While this shift offers opportunities for businesses, it also requires new business models, core values, and policies.