College: Art and Built Environment | Department: Construction Technology and Management
Title of Research: Implementing Circular Design and Construction Principles in the Ghanaian Construction Industry
Research Summary:
The circular economy research focuses on redesigning economic systems to reduce waste while increasing resource reuse, recycling, and regeneration. It seeks to decouple economic growth from resource consumption and environmental degradation by promoting a system in which materials and products are reused for as long as possible, with their value preserved throughout their lifecycle. Dr. Agyekum has investigated various aspects of the circular economy and how they can be applied in construction, such as resource management, waste reduction, and recycling technologies, design for circularity, deconstruction, adaptability, and maintainability, among others. His research has created a basis for the ongoing development of a materials passport system for the Ghanaian construction industry. This innovation fits well with the concept of industrial symbiosis.
This research area has significant relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it intersects with several goals, including Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.