What is it about?
The study looks at how ready the industry is for change: Do companies understand the circular economy? Are local authorities prepared to support it? Are the current laws and policies strong enough? It also identifies the main barriers, such as unclear regulations, lack of incentives, limited awareness, and poor collaboration between public and private sectors. From these insights, it suggests strategic pathways to make circular practices possible — like improving policy frameworks, building skills among professionals, encouraging innovation and reuse, and creating pilot projects that show how circular construction can work in Malaysia. In essence, it’s about preparing Malaysia’s building sector to move from “build and waste” to “build and renew”—ensuring that construction contributes to both economic growth and environmental well-being.
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Why is it important?
The construction industry produces a lot of waste and uses many natural resources. Moving toward a circular economy helps reduce this impact by reusing materials, cutting carbon emissions, and making buildings more efficient. It also supports Malaysia’s goals for sustainability and creates new opportunities for greener jobs and innovation in the built environment.
Perspectives
The way we build and use resources shapes the quality of our environment, the cost of living, and even public health. If we keep wasting materials and energy, cities will become more expensive and polluted. But if we design and build in smarter, circular ways—reusing what we already have—we can create cleaner, more affordable, and longer-lasting places to live. It’s not just about sustainability; it’s about making sure our buildings and communities can thrive without draining the planet.
Dr Najah Md Alwi
University of Malaya
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: EMBRACING CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN MALAYSIA'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: READINESS, CHALLENGES, AND STRATEGIC PATHWAYS, PLANNING MALAYSIA, October 2025, Malaysian Institute of Planners,
DOI: 10.21837/pm.v23i38.1810.
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