Circular Economy Perspectives in the Thai Construction Industry

The construction sector represents a significant environmental concern, accounting for over 35% of Europe’s waste and up to 12% of national greenhouse gas emissions. While the construction sector’s environmental impact is substantial, other industries must also prioritize waste reduction and carbon emission mitigation. The Circular Economy (CE) paradigm is crucial for aligning with global sustainability goals, which emphasize improving resource efficiency and reducing waste through reuse and recycling. In practice, Project Managers play a vital role in mitigating these environmental consequences by leveraging awareness, policy frameworks, and procurement strategies to encourage CE implementation. For existing buildings, prioritizing material reuse, refurbishment, and recycling is particularly vital. This approach substantially reduces the demand for new resources and significantly mitigates construction’s environmental footprint. Effective strategies include adaptive reuse, deconstruction (rather than demolition), and designing buildings for easy material recovery.

This presentation will share the findings from case studies and expert interviews conducted as part of this study, offering insights into Circular Economy implementation and promoting more sustainable construction practices.

Agenda:

1. Circular Economy Implementation
    1.1 Construction waste
    1.2 Circular Economy principle
    1.3 Project Manager Roles for Circular Economy Implementation

2. Case Study and Interview
    2.1 Case study – Precast concrete factory
    2.2 Interview
    2.3 Perspectives on Circular Economy

3. Circular Economy Implementation
    3.1 Circular Economy Implementation in Thailand
    3.2 Drivers and Barriers for Implementation
   3.3 Recommendation