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Are you looking to boost the sustainability credentials of your construction projects? Quantifying circularity is now more important than ever, but simply noting recycled content or the potential for recycling at end-of-life isn’t enough anymore.
Watch the replay of our webinar that explores how you can earn Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) credits for projects centred on circularity. ISC's Ben Wade, Downer's James Braham and Close the Loop's Steve Morriss talk with our Head of Circularity Jim Goddin.
About the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC)
The ISC is a member-based, purpose-driven organisation operating in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Its mission is to embed sustainability into infrastructure projects, ensuring they deliver cultural, social, environmental, and economic benefits.
The ISC achieves this through the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme, which evaluates the sustainability performance of infrastructure across planning, design, construction, and operational phases.
What we’ve learned in this webinar:
Integrating circularity in infrastructure standards:
Circularity is embedded in infrastructure credits through focused areas like planning, design, waste diversion, adaptability, and end-of-life considerations. These credits encourage efficient material use and enhance asset resilience.
Driving innovation with recycled content:
An ongoing innovation challenge rewards projects that incorporate recycled materials beyond standard levels, aligning with federal policies to promote circularity in infrastructure and paving the way for greater integration of sustainable materials in mainstream standards.
Using material circularity indicator (MCI) as a benchmark:
The MCI serves as a robust measure of circularity, factoring in product durability and lifecycle benefits rather than focusing solely on recycled content, creating a holistic approach to assessing circularity.
Valuing product longevity and durability:
Products that exhibit extended lifespans, such as certain asphalt additives, achieve better MCI scores, benefiting projects aimed at sustainability and performance over time.
Enhanced product insights through MCI:
Employing MCI provides new perspectives on product performance, enabling a deeper understanding of how manufacturing choices, material selection, and lifecycle attributes contribute to circularity, supporting evidence-based project design.
Building credibility through measurable standards:
MCI acts as a valuable tool for substantiating circularity efforts in the market, allowing for transparency and credibility. This measurable approach helps avoid greenwashing by backing circularity claims with concrete data.
Collaboration as key to circular success:
The transition to a circular economy is powered by collaboration, with partnerships driving innovation in material use and supporting the adoption of circular practices across industries.
Rising influence of standards and procurement:
Government and industry standards increasingly support circular materials, and procurement practices, especially within local councils, show a growing preference for circular materials. This shift signals a broader acceptance and encourages the specification-driven adoption of sustainable materials in infrastructure projects.
Case Study: Reconophalt
Reconophalt is an innovative asphalt product developed by Downer Group, incorporating high levels of recycled materials such as soft plastics, glass, and toner from used printer cartridges. This sustainable approach diverts significant waste from landfills.
Using the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) enabled Downer to undertake an objective assessment of Reconophalt™’s sustainability attributes beyond traditional metrics. The product’s design reflects core circular economy principles by increasing material durability and reducing reliance on virgin resources.
Reconophalt has been used in major projects, including the Monash Freeway upgrade in Victoria, showing benefits like longer-lasting roads and lower carbon emissions. This project is a great example of how different groups—industry, government, and sustainability councils—can work together to create products that help protect the environment while meeting high performance standards in construction.