Watch the webinar replay here, or scroll down for a summary and a preview.
We explore how circular economy metrics can reshape construction projects in this webinar in partnership with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Learn how GBCA is planning to integrate these principles within the latest Green Star Buildings framework to drive sustainability beyond recycling.
Our Impact Director, Nicole Sullivan, was joined by GBCA’s Chief Impact Officer, Jorge Chapa and Jim Goddin, our Head of Circular Economy.
Launched in 2020, Green Star Buildings is a holistic rating tool designed to tackle the industry's future challenges. The consultation for the latest update, Green Star Buildings v1.1, includes practical ways to embed circular principles across construction projects.
Here are our 10 takeaways from the webinar
- Focus on holistic circularity: The industry is moving beyond defining the circular economy as recycling and waste minimisation to holistic systems thinking, This means circularity is integrated into the entire lifecycle of construction projects, from design to end-of-use.
- Green Star rating evolution: The Green Star Buildings v1.1 update features circularity metrics, including practical guidance for embedding circular principles in construction and fit-outs.
- Circularity in fit-outs: The upcoming Green Star Fitouts tool will have a dedicated circular category to improve reuse, adaptability, and resource efficiency in short lifecycle projects like office fit-outs.
- Metrics and measurement: The GBCA is piloting circularity metrics, including the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) and Circular Transition Indicators (CTI), to provide standardised measures of circularity.
- Strategic signals to industry: By incorporating circularity into Green Star tools, GBCA aims to create market momentum for circular principles, similar to their earlier work with life cycle assessments (LCAs) and embodied carbon requirements.
- Responsible products guidelines: GBCA’s guidelines for product certification include a circularity category, providing a framework for manufacturers to improve practices and prepare for future standards.
- Digital Product Passports: GBCA is exploring the role of digital product passports in tracking the provenance and reusability of materials, essential for future circularity.
- Advocacy and partnerships: GBCA works with governments, industry, and organisations like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to drive the adoption of circular metrics and frameworks, ensuring widespread impact.
- Addressing market maturity: While recognising current gaps in the markets for reclaimed materials and infrastructure, GBCA emphasises long-term design strategies to ensure future material recoverability and adaptability.
- Educational initiatives: To speed circularity understanding, GBCA is running courses, developing guidance materials, and promoting new industry language, such as shifting from "waste" to "resource management."
These takeaways underline GBCA's commitment to transforming Australia's built environment through circular principles, addressing both immediate challenges and long-term industry evolution. You can learn more about the ISO standards for circular economy and the MCI, which Jim helped to develop.