Brought to you by CSA Group
Laying a Strong Foundation: How to Overcome Barriers to Circularity in Construction

Circular economy approaches are being discussed across Canada’s construction sector as one of the ways to reach net-zero targets, reduce environmental impacts, strengthen resiliency, and extend the value of resources. Although many barriers hinder the adoption of this model, outlining a strategic framework for a circular built environment (CBE) in Canada can serve as a first step in the transition toward more sustainable construction practices. CSA Group has released two new research reports that offer ideas on how to help overcome barriers and mobilize the industry to further embrace circularity.

The compelling case for a circular economy model

The construction industry generates a substantial amount of waste. Often, construction materials and products destined for landfills carry considerable value. Reuse of wood, concrete, steel, and other structural materials in building applications can also reduce embodied carbon emissions associated with manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of these materials. Overall, businesses moving toward circular models can benefit from cost reductions, energy savings, and improved consumer and investor relationships.

Overcoming barriers to circularity in construction

CBE is at an early stage of adoption in Canada. Its successful implementation will require not only collaboration of many different participants but also a significant shift in mindset and behaviour across the industry.

A recent CSA Group research project, The Circular Built Environment in Canada: A Review of the Current State, Gaps, and Opportunities, explores the existing barriers to circularity in Canada. The study recommends several solutions to help remove these obstacles, illustrated by examples of successful domestic and international CBE initiatives.

Standardizing terminology

The research highlights inconsistency in terms such as recycling, renovating, adaptive reuse, up/downcycling, and reverse logistics as one of the most prominent barriers to implementing circular practices in the industry. That can lead to misunderstandings about the effort required and the benefits gained from circularity.

Standardizing circularity terminology can help align perceptions, policies, regulations, and technical specifications.

Standardizing data collection and reporting

Another challenge in implementing CBE lies with data. CSA Group research calls on standards to help establish consistent collection and reporting of circularity-related data, such as material use, embodied emissions, waste generation, and diversion, across the industry and jurisdictions.

Underpinning regulatory tools through standards

Proposed updates to the National Building Code aim to address circularity by incorporating definitions of building retrofits and setting limits for operational and embodied carbon. However, there are several other areas that require further attention and development. Industry participants suggest including considerations for building renovations, the use of salvaged materials, and their testing and verification, which can help remove a barrier to the reuse of construction materials after the end of their first life.

The research highlights how standards can support regulatory tools. They can provide consistent guidance and best practices to help encourage the use of reclaimed materials and limit embodied carbon.

Addressing technical challenges through standardization

The study highlights several technical challenges that can prevent building designers from specifying reused materials or products incorporating recycled materials. Environmental product declarations (EPD) could provide necessary information, but they are often not clear enough to support informed decision-making.

In other instances, technical solutions that can simplify future renovation or adaptation of a building, such as reversible connections, fastening methods for deconstructing tall buildings, and modular construction, are not considered standard practices, which can impact the cost and schedule of a project.

Standards can help improve access to information on reused or recycled materials and products and provide requirements and guidelines to create alternate compliance pathways for circular construction methods and components.

A strategic framework for future action

While examples of initiatives that help remove obstacles on the path toward circularity are encouraging, a broad, industry-wide transition to CBE remains a complex challenge. A well-coordinated action involving all industry participants is needed – from owners, developers, and builders who contribute directly by making building decisions (direct actors) to those who can help enable change (enabling actors), such as architects, engineers, investors, governments, insurance companies, and standards development organizations.

CSA Group’s research report, The Circular Built Environment in Canada: A Strategic Framework for Future Action, outlines a three-stage approach that can inspire industry participants to implement the elements of CBE.

Stage 1: Preconditions

The first stage aims to reduce frictions that can be caused by the lack of familiarity with CBE concepts, and various regulatory and technical misalignments. The enabling actors can help reduce the systemic barriers and make it easier for direct actors to create change.

Stage 2: Project Activities

The second stage provides an opportunity to test circular methods and approaches in pilot projects. In this stage, owners and developers can gain more knowledge about circular buildings. At the same time, architects and engineers can learn how to design buildings that meet circularity standards and communicate their design qualities and values.

Stage 3: Post Activities

Celebrating and promoting circular building projects is central to the third stage. This can motivate more actors to replicate circular practices and innovations.

Repeating these stages quickly over time will allow the construction sector to build on past successes, bring in more actors, leading to the emergence of a broadly adopted CBE.

The process for mobilizing systems changes for a circular built environment.
(Image: courtesy of CSA Group)

Prioritizing a sustainable future

Prioritizing a circular built environment is key to reducing the carbon impacts of the construction industry. CSA Group is actively supporting these initiatives through its research, standards development, education, and advocacy. By standardizing terminology for circularity in construction and providing guidance and best practices for implementing circular methods in practice, CSA Group helps lay strong foundations for a more sustainable future for the industry and the society. To learn more, visit CSA Group’s website.