Page 3 - Open Access December - 2025

POINT OF VIEW

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the definition of products and materials not as single-use items information about their recyclability in their raw form . The
destined for disposal, but as resources whose intrinsic value can absence of such clarity hinders the effective implementation of
be preserved and continually circulated. The third principle of circular economy principles. Identifying which materials can be
the circular economy is regenerating the nature. This principle, recycled or reused in their original state would directly support
as the previous two, suggests moving from a take-make-dispose all three core principles of the circular economy.
linear economy to a circular economy, by supporting natural
processes enabling the restoration and expansion of natural • First, it would help eliminate waste and pollution by
habitats. This third principle of the circular economy also reflects ensuring that materials are not discarded at the end of their
a paradigm shift, as it emphasises a transition from resource life cycle.
extraction to ecological regeneration. • Second, it would promote the continuous circulation of
products and materials by enabling their reuse in future
5. TRANSLATING CIRCULAR ECONOMY construction processes.
PRINCIPLES INTO MATERIAL SELECTION
• Third, it would support the regeneration of natural systems
STRATEGIES by reducing the demand for virgin resource extraction,
thereby lessening environmental degradation and allowing
To translate the principles of Circular Economy into practical
strategies within the construction sector, material selection ecosystems to recover.
emerges as a critical decision-making stage. Construction Thus, improved transparency and knowledge about material
being an industry predominantly relies on a linear ‘take-make- properties are critical to advancing circular construction
dispose’ model, often leads to excessive resource extraction , practices. A structured approach that helps knowing the
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high waste generation , and significant environmental selection of reusable material will benefit, designers and
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degradation . Previous research probed in to how the builders to make informed decisions on supporting circular
materials were selected initially in construction and ascertained economy principles. Without knowledge of which materials can
that materials were often selected and used without considering be reused or recycled, most material risk of being treated as
their end-of-life potential, resulting in structures that were waste after use, leading to large volumes of construction and
difficult to disassemble or recycle . This approach is not demolition debris ending up in landfills, constantly needing to
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only unsustainable-contributing to landfill overflow and the produce new material and ultimately undermines sustainability
pollution of the natural environment, but also accelerates the goals. Therefore, a conceptual framework is essential to translate
depletion of finite natural resources. The construction sector circular economy theory into practical strategies that ensure
is therefore under a huge pressure to adopt more sustainable materials used in construction contribute to a more resilient,
practices aligned with the aforementioned three principles of sustainable, and circular built environment.
circular economy, particularly in identifying and utilising reusable
materials that support cradle-to-cradle resource flows. The role 6. THE ROLE OF GREEN PUBLIC
of the built environment is therefore crucial, due to its high PROCUREMENT IN THE MATERIAL
environmental impacts, which also conversely offer significant
opportunities for reductions in energy use, greenhouse gas SELECTION PROCESS
emissions and waste production. When translating circular economy principles to material
selection, it becomes clear that policy and regulatory tools
Having established the core principles of the circular economy,
it is apparent that effective application and realisation of play a critical role in shaping industry practices. One such
benefits require strategic focus, particularly in the early stages tool is Green Public Procurement (GPP), which integrates
environmental criteria into procurement decisions, particularly
of construction, where decisions about which materials to use in large-scale construction projects funded by public entities .
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and how they contribute to lifecycle management are made. GPP has the potential to drive the selection of materials that are
With this in mind, the focus of this research is to provide a recyclable, reusable, and low-impact, thereby operationalising
comprehensive review of reusable materials that enable cradle- the core principles of circular economy existing procurement
to-cradle resource utilisation, thereby promoting sustainable processes.
practices and advancing circular economy implementation
within the construction sector. It is now coming to light that the GPP prioritises materials that are 1) recyclable or reusable; 2)
circular economy represents a paradigm shift from the traditional having low embodied carbon or energy; 3) containing recycled
linear model of material use in construction. It has also become content; 4) can be easily disassembled; and 5) having non-toxic
evident that selecting appropriate construction materials is a life cycle impacts . To this end, GPP acts as a policy-level
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complex task, particularly because materials often lack clear enabler that turns circular economy ke principles into material

THE INDIAN CONCRETE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2025 9