The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released a new guide to drive circular procurement in Australia’s built environment, providing clear steps for embedding circular strategies into procurement practices.
Designed for developers, architects, procurement managers and government agencies, the practical guide to circular procurement for new buildings and major refurbishments aligns with government policy priorities and addresses real-world industry needs.
Providing information that will help decision makers to minimise waste and pollution, reduce embodied carbon and circulate products at their highest best value for longer, the guide delves into extending the life of Australia’s buildings.
It introduces circular economy fundamentals and circular procurement concepts, outlines circular strategies to drive circular principles in the built environment, details how each strategy can be implemented at each stage of the building lifecycle, provides case studies and sample procurement clauses for briefs & contracts, and highlights additional circular economy resources.
GBCA Chief Executive Davina Rooney said the guide is a critical step in accelerating Australia’s transition to a more sustainable and circular built environment.
“The construction industry is responsible for 40-50 percent of raw materials globally and of this, it’s estimated that only 30 percent of materials are currently recycled. Procurement decisions we make today shape the sustainability of buildings and cities of the future,” she said.
The guide was developed in collaboration with GHD; the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NSW; the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Queensland; Green Industries South Australia; and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
“Materials used in construction are a major source of embodied carbon and resource consumption. By rethinking the selection and sourcing of construction materials, we can significantly cut waste, lower emissions and enhance building resilience,” added CEFC Head of Property Michael Di Russo.
