Circular economy in modular construction: An Australian case study

The global building and construction sector is known for its low resource efficiency which leads to a significant waste generation rate. Therefore, the management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste has become a priority issue in many countries. The use of products with recycled content (PwRC)-emerged from C&D waste materials-in modular construction is a sustainable strategy to enhance resource circularity and circular economy in the sector. Despite this, there are significant challenges in making this a reality. Hence, this study was conducted to explore the factors influencing the optimal utilisation of PwRC in prefabricated construction products. A case study approach was adopted to understand how the industry perceives the use of these resources in this construction methodology. The results showed that several factors influence their utilisation in Australian modular construction. This study proposes a framework developed to guide efforts in enhancing the uptake of PwRC in modular construction. • Significant challenges exist to use recycled content in modular construction. • Drivers for using recycled content in modular construction are identified. • A framework was developed to guide the optimal use of recycled content in modular construction.