Building out waste in the construction sector

The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to landfill in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The built environment is also responsible for 15% of this country's greenhouse gas emissions.

To eliminate waste throughout the construction process, we need to transition from a ‘take-make-waste’ linear economy to a circular one. We need to design out waste from the get go and recognise ‘waste’ as a resource, rather than rubbish.

Industry-led Implementation Plan for Circular Construction

This Implementation Plan outlines a series of industry-led actions within eight ‘points of intervention’. It spans from the present until 2030. It aims to steer the construction sector towards circularity and sustainability. It underscores the urgent need for collaboration and a concerted effort across all stakeholders. This includes clients, architects, developers, material suppliers, contractors, builders, consultants, end-of-life solutions providers and regulators. By fostering collective responsibility and innovation, this plan strives to pave the way for a more resilient, low-carbon, circular construction sector.

Download

The Construction Sector Accord and the Sustainable Business Network have partnered to work with the building industry. The aim is to eliminate construction material waste in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In April 2023, we hosted a one-day workshop exploring how we can build out waste across the construction value chain. It brought together nearly 50 representatives from across all areas of the construction sector, including local and central government. We published a report providing an overview of the workshop findings, including key opportunities to reduce waste and maximise material usage.

Read the report

The workshop identified priority areas for action. As a result, Action Groups were formed to work on accelerating circular construction practices in three key areas: Product stewardship, reverse logistics and integrated design processes.

Action Groups

Breaking the Waste Cycle: A guide to product stewardship in construction

This guide offers direction in developing product stewardship schemes for construction products and materials.

Download

Getting on the Same Page: A shared language for a circular construction sector

A shared language is essential to foster collaboration and streamline operations. To facilitate this, we have developed a standardised set of terms and definitions relating to eliminating waste in the construction sector.

Download

Integrated Design Process in the Built Environment

Integrated Design Process is a collaborative approach to design to achieve better outcomes. It involves all relevant parties working together from the very beginning of a project. This resource offers guidance on how to use IDP to reduce waste in your own construction projects.

Download

Template clauses for product stewardship success

These clause templates can be copied or slightly altered to suit your needs. The goal of these clauses is to get contractors working onsite to ensure product stewardship schemes are successful, and to ensure suppliers are carrying out their side of the scheme.

View

Leveraging the power of design to build out waste

On 10th October, we held a seminar to explore how we can leverage the power of design to build out waste. We heard about the bad (instances where waste has been designed into the construction process) as well as the good (projects where waste and carbon have been designed out). We also learnt about effective on-site practices and products and services that enable reuse and waste minimisation.

Watch the seminar