A Circular Economy Maturity Model for Construction Organisations

PhD Candidate: Ms Shashini Jayakodi

Supervisory Panel

Abstract

The construction industry is acknowledged as an essential driver of global economic growth, valued its annual output at approximately $10 trillion globally. Nevertheless, the industry has a significant economic contribution, responsible for approximately 34% of final energy demand, 50% of the worldwide resource consumption and waste production, and 37% of buildings and construction operational and process CO2 emissions annually. The underlying reason for this has been identified that the construction industry traditionally follows the linear economy concept, which encompasses virgin material extraction, processing them into new products that cannot be dissembled, and discarding them before their functional lifetime, which will lead to several negative externalities on environment, economy, and society. Conversely to the traditional linear economic model that has conventionally governed the construction industry, integrating the Circular Economy (CE) concept has engendered a drastic transformation, harmonising social, environmental, and economic objectives. In the construction industry, among diversified organisations, main contractor organisations manage one or several phases of the life cycle of construction projects, playing a dominant role. There are some attempts taken to introduce CE in construction organisations. However, there is lack of guidance to assess and improve CE for these organisations. Despite the key challenges faced due to project-based nature and multiple supply chain networks in construction settings, a need for a holistic, comprehensive methodology for assessing and improving CE for construction organisations is imperative in order to effectively implement CE in construction. This doctoral research aims to propose a comprehensive CE maturity model for assessing and improving circularity in construction organisations that can support organisations’ strategic planning towards CE.

Sources of Funding

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship for Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering higher degree program, Western Sydney University, Australia (2023 - 2026)

Biography

Shashini Jayakodi is a PhD researcher at the Centre for Smart Modern Construction (c4SMC) at Western Sydney University. She obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) in Facilities Management degree from the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. After graduation, she rendered her services to the Department of Building Economics and Department of Facilities Management, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka as a temporary lecturer before the commencement of her PhD at Western Sydney University. She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Facilities Management Sri Lanka (IFMSL). Her research interests are Circular Economy, Waste Management, and Sustainable Development.

Education

• B.Sc. (Hons) in Facilities Management, Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Jul 2017 – Nov 2021)

Honours / Awards / Grants

• Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship for Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering higher degree program, Western Sydney University, Australia (2023 - 2026)
• Dean’s List in 6 Semesters of BSc (Hons) in Facilities Management degree, Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2017-2021)

Professional Affiliations

• Associate Member – Institute of Facilities Management, Sri Lanka

Research Interests

• Circular economy
• Waste management
• Sustainable development
• Women in construction

Related Publications

Conference Publications

• Jayakodi, S, Senaratne, S, Perera, S & Bamdad, K 2023, 'Digital technology enabled circularity in the construction industry: a bibliometric study', Proceedings of the 11th World Construction Symposium, 21-22 July 2023, Sri Lanka,[Online], pp. 460-70.

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