WoodCircus, Underpinning the vital role of the forest-based sector in the Circular Bioeconomy. D2.2 Resource Efficiency, Side Streams and Value Chain Analysis – WP2 Final Report

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A holistic conceptual model for managing construction logistics in building projects: the case of Iran

Logistics, as a factor that affects the total cost of a product, has attracted attention in many industries. However, construction is behind other industries, such as manufacturing and food, in terms of obtaining value through application of effective logistics management. Some specific characteristics of the construction industry, such as fragmented supply chain, indirect employment, temporary location and matchless products, have prevented organisations utilising logistic management in their projects. In construction, logistics is about the mobilisation of different types of resources to feed the project with the required materials and components at the right time, in the right place, right quantity and right quality. To do so, a new approach to construction logistics should be undertaken that respects the special characteristics of this industry. This research aims to develop a conceptual model based on the current practice of construction logistics in building projects. This model, in addition to complying with the special characteristics of the construction industry, is also adapted to the economic, cultural, technological and environmental specifications of the building sector in Iran. The complexity mindset is adopted in this research which allows considering a construction logistics system as a whole and the system may assert an aggregate behaviour. This approach is called holism and investigates the performance of complex adaptive systems. The study is focused on the Iranian construction industry as the main source of data collection. To achieve the aim and objectives of the research, a literature review was followed by qualitative and quantitative data collection. This research adopted the complementarity approach that uses qualitative and quantitative strategies in a way that complement each other. In the qualitative phase, twenty four open-ended interviews were conducted with construction practitioners who work in the building sector in Iran. Gathered data was analysed using NVivo. This involves codifying the textual data to find themes, categories and relationships. The results of the first phase were rich and exploratory and explained opinions, norms and attitudes. Based on the results of the first phase, a questionnaire with ten sections was designed to investigate different aspects of construction logistics from wider perspectives by conducting a survey on a large sample. The data gathered from the second phase were analysed in a descriptive manner to provide statistical information about the present practice of construction logistics in the Iranian building sector. The final product of this research is a holistic conceptual model that has four subsystems: (a) environmental factors (b) operational factors, (c) commercial factors, and (d) managerial factors. Each subsystem has several agents that are different functions of logistics in a building project. The environmental factors include project size and location, peak working seasons, resource conservation and weather conditions. The operational factors discuss technological matters, construction methods, new materials, waste and transportation. The commercial factors encompass the supply chain, finance, economic conditions, material costs, estimation, supplier selection, packaging, purchasing, inspection, and material quality. The managerial factors cover material management, warehousing, material handling, information management, scheduling, delivery, organisation, personnel, knowledge, culture and site layout designing. All of these functions are integrated under the topic of construction logistics model. The model also illustrates the relationships among agents of the system. The developed model, in addition to technical factors, has paid attention to soft factors such as culture, economy and knowledge. The model is adaptable to changing environments and elements may be added or deleted from the system whenever required

Highly Abrasion-resistant and Long-lasting Concrete

Studded tire usage in Alaska contributes to rutting damage on pavements resulting in high maintenance costs and safety issues. In this study binary, ternary, and quaternary highly-abrasion resistant concrete mix designs, using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), were developed. The fresh, mechanical and durability properties of these mix designs were then tested to determine an optimum highly-abrasion resistant concrete mix that could be placed in cold climates to reduce rutting damage. SCMs used included silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and type F fly ash. Tests conducted measured workability, air content, drying shrinkage, compressive strength, flexural strength, and chloride ion permeability. Resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, scaling due to deicers, and abrasion resistance were also measured. A survey and literature review on concrete pavement practices in Alaska and other cold climates was also conducted. A preliminary construction cost analysis comparing the concrete mix designs developed was also completed

Improving environmental sustainability in construction : supplier collaboration approach

The construction industry has great environmental impacts and it accounts to 39% of all of the world’s carbon emissions. Of these, the operational emissions, such as the energy to heat and light buildings, account for 28%, whereas the remaining 11% is associated with construction processes and materials throughout the lifecycle of the building. These impacts with the identified increased competitive advantage are pushing the companies in the construction industry to find ways to improve their environmental sustainability. In the construction industry supplier relationships are an important part of the business since 60-80% of all of the construction project’s costs come from purchases. This research aims to provide the case company, as well as other similar companies in the industry, methods to improve their environmental sustainability. This subject is looked at with the focus on supplier collaboration since it holds an especially significant place in the construction industry. The study uses green supply chain management and sustainability collaboration as the background for the theoretical framework. The study was conducted by interviewing a case company and its six suppliers. These six suppliers were picked due to their pioneer status in environmental sustainability in the Finnish construction industry. The study found different ways a construction company can improve their environmental sustainability, and that collaboration is a key element in achieving environmental objectives. These ways are setting sustainability objectives for the company, applying sustainability as a company value or to seek competitive advantage, implementing certified systems, practicing supplier supervision, finding eco-friendly production solutions, investing in product development, implementing personnel training, practicing recycling, finding eco-friendly logistic solutions, collaborating with stakeholders, implementing projects that improve environmental sustainability but that are not directly linked to company’s processes

Environmental Product Declaration as a Mobilizer to Achieve Competitive Advantages

Global climate challenges have led to a significant increase in renewable energy production. Currently, energy generated from the sun is the fastest-growing energy source globally. Solar panels based on silicon make it possible to transform solar energy into electrical energy. However, the extraction of silicon is highly energy-intensive, hence potentially contributing to significant pollutant emissions. On the other hand, a Norwegian silicon producer, REC Solar, has chosen to utilize a more expensive technology, resulting in lower polluting emissions. Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are used to document and promote the environmental effects of a specific product developed according to international standards and Life Cycle Analysis. The EPD is founded on Product Category Rules (PCR) to create a basis for comparison regarding environmental properties for products with equal satisfactory qualities. Thus, EPDs can contribute to more sustainable procurement. The harmonization of PCRs and the prevalence of EPDs have been proven to be most significant in the construction industry. Therefore, an empirical study has been conducted within this industry. The thesis aims to investigate EPD's active role in a competitive market and how it can contribute to REC Solars' utilization of low-emission silicon. A quantitative study has been conducted to retrieve experiences from EPD-owners in the Norwegian construction industry. In addition, a qualitative study has been conducted to analyze how contractors evaluate EPDs in procurement processes. Finally, the empirical results are structured in a theoretical resource management framework to assess the EPD's ability to mobilize low-emission silicon and achieve a lasting competitive advantage. The research results show that EPD can mobilize low-emission silicon as a resource. However, the perceived value of low-emission silicon is currently not adequate for buyers to prioritize lower emissions above price. The study promotes that an increased number and more explicit incentive systems are needed for the environmental properties of products to have a greater impact on procurement decisions. Hence, appropriate the potential value and achieve lasting competitive advantage

Environmental Product Declaration as a Mobilizer to Achieve Competitive Advantages

Global climate challenges have led to a significant increase in renewable energy production. Currently, energy generated from the sun is the fastest-growing energy source globally. Solar panels based on silicon make it possible to transform solar energy into electrical energy. However, the extraction of silicon is highly energy-intensive, hence potentially contributing to significant pollutant emissions. On the other hand, a Norwegian silicon producer, REC Solar, has chosen to utilize a more expensive technology, resulting in lower polluting emissions. Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are used to document and promote the environmental effects of a specific product developed according to international standards and Life Cycle Analysis. The EPD is founded on Product Category Rules (PCR) to create a basis for comparison regarding environmental properties for products with equal satisfactory qualities. Thus, EPDs can contribute to more sustainable procurement. The harmonization of PCRs and the prevalence of EPDs have been proven to be most significant in the construction industry. Therefore, an empirical study has been conducted within this industry. The thesis aims to investigate EPD's active role in a competitive market and how it can contribute to REC Solars' utilization of low-emission silicon. A quantitative study has been conducted to retrieve experiences from EPD-owners in the Norwegian construction industry. In addition, a qualitative study has been conducted to analyze how contractors evaluate EPDs in procurement processes. Finally, the empirical results are structured in a theoretical resource management framework to assess the EPD's ability to mobilize low-emission silicon and achieve a lasting competitive advantage. The research results show that EPD can mobilize low-emission silicon as a resource. However, the perceived value of low-emission silicon is currently not adequate for buyers to prioritize lower emissions above price. The study promotes that an increased number and more explicit incentive systems are needed for the environmental properties of products to have a greater impact on procurement decisions. Hence, appropriate the potential value and achieve lasting competitive advantage

Microgrids & District Energy: Pathways To Sustainable Urban Development

A microgrid is an energy system specifically designed to meet some of the energy needs of a group of buildings, a campus, or an entire community. It can include local facilities that generate electricity, heating, and/or cooling; store energy; distribute the energy generated; and manage energy consumption intelligently and in real time. Microgrids enable economies of scale that facilitate local production of energy in ways that can advance cost reduction, sustainability, economic development, and resilience goals. As they often involve multiple stakeholders, and may encompass numerous distinct property boundaries, municipal involvement is often a key factor for successful implementation. This report provides an introduction to microgrid concepts, identifies the benefits and most common road blocks to implementation, and discusses proactive steps municipalities can take to advance economically viable and environmentally superior microgrids. It also offers advocacy suggestions for municipal leaders and officials to pursue at the state and regional level. The contents are targeted to municipal government staff but anyone looking for introductory material on microgrids should find it useful

Effective knowledge transfer to SMEs

EIM examined to what extent small and medium-sized enterprises may be stimulated to absorb more know-how in respect of for instance new process technology to use that know-how for in-company business process upgrading. The study focuses primarily on the cluster of businesses hardly involved in technological innovation, and examines to what degree knowledge about marketing and know-how management is employed to stimulate the absorption of know-how among retarded businesses.