Scoping study for building the future – circular economy

What we did and why

We supported research by Queensland University of Technology (QUT), through the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), to provide an in-depth analysis of the transition to a circular economy within the Australian building industry.

With construction and demolition materials accounting for 44% of all waste generated in Australia and the building sector’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions at a record high, the move to a circular economy presents a significant opportunity for positive change.

QUT’s Professor Leonie Barner led the research.

This was the first project under the Building 4.0 CRC’s Special Interest Projects (SIP) Program.

SIPs have a topic of broad, mutual concern to all Building 4.0 partners and allow for collaboration and accelerated execution of the project.

This research was completed in 2024-25.

See the final report: Scoping Study for Building the Future – Circular Economy – Shared Interest Project on the Building 4.0 CRC website.

What difference this made

The research identified key barriers, enablers, and benefits of a circular economy for stakeholders, and provides a roadmap for the Australian property and construction industry to create a circular economy, which covers the end-to-end management of construction materials by maximising resource productivity and minimising or eliminating or re-using construction waste.

Given the complex socio-political and economic factors at play, and the potential competing needs of key stakeholders, this scoping study will form a solid foundation on which to plan the necessary steps and actions to enable the transition to a circular economy.