Evaluating the transition towards cleaner production in the construction and demolition sector of China: A review

The construction sector is one of the most impacting economic activities in the world. Its direct environmental impacts include a large use of non-renewable energy and mineral resources while its indirect impacts are related to the disposal of construction and demolition wastes (C&DW). To improve its environmental performances the sector is innovating in terms of cleaner materials, products and processes. Cleaner production (CP) as a preventive approach to environmental issues is showing to be adequate to address the environmental impacts of the construction sector for the transition towards the sustainable construction (SC). In China CP plays an important role along with the circular economy (CE) in the national environmental legislation and policy adopted to tackle the huge environmental challenges and for the transition to the sustainable development. In our study we carry out a narrative literature review to explore the alternative C&DW management (C&DWM) strategies beyond landfilling implemented in China for the purpose of evaluating the transition towards CP. The results show that CP for C&DWM has not been yet fully implemented in construction companies and industry mainly due to legislative and economic barriers. Construction companies are also much resistant to eco-innovation due to the fact they are only profit driven and lack of awareness of environmental protection through C&DWM, as well as lack of culture towards sustainable development. A refining of the current C&DWM regulations, laws and policies as well as the support of the demand of sustainable buildings are suggested as urgent measures to improve the C&DWM by the construction companies and to put the goals of CP, CE and SC at the forefront of their business agenda. For increased sustainability the above mentioned C&DWM policies should be based on much stronger integration of economic and environmental evaluation tools, in order to overcome regulatory, know-how and business barriers to Cleaner Production within a framework of environmental stewardship that aims to preserve the environmental integrity and the ecosystem services provided to the economy and societal wellbeing. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.