Location: Laurentian Main campus, room C-114

1.5 ConEd Learning Hours
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

A circular economy aims to retain materials in their most useful form for as long as possible in order to reduce material consumption, waste generation, and associated carbon emissions. There is thus an increasing global impetus for transition to a circular economy in the built environment, including through the recent introduction of various relevant (sub-/inter-)national policies.

This workshop forms part of an ongoing research project conducted by Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Sheffield, England, aiming to understand current circular economy policy and its influence on construction sector practice in different international contexts. In addition to the project’s findings to date, this interactive session encourages sharing of participants’ own experiences of circular economy policy and practice and exploring potential avenues to further promote this in the future.

Learning Objectives

1. Characterize the current circular economy policy landscape in Ontario and beyond.
   
2. Understand the influence this has on construction sector practice.
   
3. Compare circular economy policy and resultant practice in different (inter-)national
   contexts.
   
4. Develop policy recommendations to enhance transition to a circular economy.

Dr. Charles Gillott is a researcher of circular economy in the built environment at The University of Sheffield, England. His work addresses multiple aspects of circularity across various spatial scales, including the reuse of buildings, components, and materials at the neighbourhood, city, and national level. Charles is currently working with Toronto Metropolitan University as part of an international research project aiming to understand circular economy policy and its influence on construction-sector practice in different international contexts.

Steph Tzanis studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto and has just completed their MASc in Building Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. Their wide range of professional and academic experiences, along with their passion for environmental sustainability, has brought them to the built environment. Under the supervision of Dr. Mark Gorgolewski, Steph's research is focused on design for disassembly and determining how to attain widespread circular design practices in Ontario/Canada.