Page 4 - Open Access December - 2025

POINT OF VIEW

choices firstly by setting mandatory environmental criteria, remains limited due to financial, regulatory, and awareness
[26]
such as using certain materials (e.g., recycled steel, low-VOC constraints . Anchoring Green Public Procurement within
paints) and excluding harmful material or substances, and also this policy landscape provides a strategic lever for promoting
to drive innovation in eco-materials. Secondly, GPP encourages reusable and recycled materials in India, reinforcing the GPP
selection of materials based on life cycle assessments (LCA), and approach discussed above.
only based on initial costs. Third, GPP encourages transparency
in the material selection in the upfront by demanding 8. A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR
environmental product declarations (EPDs) in the products and MATERIAL SELECTION
material passports (MP), making it easier to compare materials’
environmental impact. Material passports are digital records In response to these regulatory and policy contexts, the
that provide detailed information about a material or product. development of a conceptual framework that helps selecting
They typically include product data, such as manufacturer, reusable materials becomes crucial. This framework integrates
[24]
origin, product codes, lifespan, and material composition . the principles of circular economy with practical decision-
In addition, they capture embedded environmental impacts making tools, providing a structured approach to assess and
(e.g., whole life carbon) and circularity attributes, indicating select reusable materials for construction. Anchored in both
whether materials contain recycled content and their potential international best practices, such as GPP, and emerging Indian
for reuse or recycling at end of life. GPP also promotes reusing policies, it guides stakeholders (e.g., architects, engineers,
certain material so that they are re-entered to the production policy-makers) in identifying which construction material(s) can
loop rather than ending in landfills. These policy initiatives also be recycled in their raw form, and how this knowledge supports
provide a space for suppliers to develop and certify sustainable circular economy principles.
or modular materials.
To begin with, the framework must be anchored in the
[8]
7. CIRCULAR CONSTRUCTION POLICIES three core principles of the circular economy, :eliminating
waste and pollution, circulating products and materials, and
AND PRACTICES IN INDIA
regenerating natural systems alongside the widely used
Building on the GPP framework, the Indian construction sector cradle-to-cradle material designing school of thought. In the
has begun aligning circular economy principles with national context of construction, effective material selection during the
policies. The Construction and Demolition Waste Management early project phases (particularly RIBA Stages 1 to 3) requires
Rules (2016) and subsequent amendments mandate a clear understanding of the input materials and their long-
[25]
segregation, reuse, and recycling of C&D waste . Agencies term performance within a circular system. It is thus essential
such as CPWD and IRC have implemented recycled aggregates to define robust material evaluation criteria, drawing from
in infrastructure projects, demonstrating practical applications established literature, in order to assess a material’s suitability
of circular materials. The adoption of EPDs and MPs is still for circular use. Using the criteria drawing from previous similar
emerging, and their uptake among SMEs and urban local bodies research [11,18] this study established six key criteria as screening

Table 1: Operationalised material selection criteria for circular construction
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION SCORE (0-2) RECYCLE/REUSE DATA SOURCES
Recyclability Can the material be recycled in its raw or 0 = No, 1 = Partial, 2 ≥1 = consider for EPD, MP, lab test reports
processed form? = Fully recycle/reuse
Reusability Can the material or its components be directly 0 = No, 1 = Limited, ≥1 = consider for Material Passport, supplier info,
reused without significant processing? 2 = Fully reusable reuse test certificates
Disassembly Is the material used in a way that allows for 0 = Difficult, 1 = ≥1 = eligible for Construction drawings, assembly
potential easy separation at end-of-life? Moderate, 2 = Easy reuse or recycling guides, MP
Toxicity Does recycling or reuse release hazardous 0 = High risk, 1 = Low ≥1 = acceptable for EPD, lab safety reports, regulatory
substances? risk, 2 = Non-toxic reuse/recycle standards
Embodied energy How much energy was used to produce the 0 = Very high, 1 = ≥1 = preferable for EPD, LCA databases, manufacturer
material? Moderate, 2 = Low reuse/recycle data
Market value Is there a viable market (value) for the 0 = None, 1 = ≥1 = feasible for Market reports, industry databases,
for recycles and recycled form of this material? If so, what Limited, 2 = Strong reuse/recycling trade associations
market trends would be the market behavior for now and
for the next five years?

10 THE INDIAN CONCRETE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2025