Environmental Management and Material Flows in Construction of Sydney

This report focuses on material flow analysis of two materials, Concrete and Steel, used in construction industry of Sydney. It identifies the biggest sources of uncertainty in the model and ways to improve management of materials in the region based on principles of Circular Economy.

CVEN9888
Environmental
Management

ABSTRACT
The present assessment is prepared on environment management and material flows in
construction of Sydney. Material flow is description of transportation of raw materials, parts,
elements, integrated objects along with final materials as flow of businesses. In Sydney,
materials, including Concrete and Steel are significant factors as they result in construction of
buildings. Material flow and concentration are imperative among suitable phases of value chain
directly along with quickly as possible.

Contents
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................2
Contents...........................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
1. Identification of two materials which will be tracked throughout a region. Justification for
reason why the materials have been chosen and how it will improve sustainability of selected
region through understanding the flows. Identification along with brief discussion whether
prior studies have evaluated flows of the materials in other regions and at what scale. Defining
system boundaries of the region and key industries or processes. Justification of rationale
behind the choice.........................................................................................................................1
2. Construction of material flow model for region of interest.....................................................3
3. Identification of biggest sources of uncertainty in the model. Discussion of shortcomings
and identify some ways the data quality be improved in a longer and better resourced study....5
4. On the basis of principles of Circular Economy as well as outcomes of the model, ways can
management of materials in the region could be improved.........................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Environmental management refers to an organised approach for supervising environmental
affairs of company (Ma, Zhang and Yin, 2020). Effective process of environment management
aims to minimise waste, reduce carbon emissions, wide usage of resources and energy along with
prevent pollution. Material flow analysis could be termed to systematic assessment of stocks and
flows of materials in system defined within time as well as space. Within construction industry
of Sydney, materials are used as they impact of durability of structure and deal with appearance
based attributes of structure.
The report includes information about two materials and construction of material flow
model for the region. It further identifies biggest source of uncertainty in the model and results of
model including ways in which management of materials in the region be improved.
MAIN BODY
1. Identification of two materials which will be tracked throughout a region. Justification for
reason why the materials have been chosen and how it will improve sustainability of
selected region through understanding the flows. Identification along with brief discussion
whether prior studies have evaluated flows of the materials in other regions and at what
scale. Defining system boundaries of the region and key industries or processes.
Justification of rationale behind the choice
Construction in Sydney is possible with two materials that are Concrete and Steel.
Concrete is composite building material which is made from mixture of coarse aggregate along
with fine that are bound together through a liquid binder including cement which hardens or
curves over time. Among all construction working in Sydney, concrete is the material that is
widely used as it is economical, hardens at ambient temperature, have potential for casting into
shape, excellent water resistance attribute, high temperature resistance, low or zero requirement
of maintenance and so on (Evangelista, Tam and Huang, 2019). The material is widely utilised in
building homes together with commercial buildings, and related fixtures that are columns as well
as driveways. At same time, the another material is Steel which is a metal alloy of carbon
addition to iron in composition for making it stronger and wider fracture resistance. As it is so
strong in comparison to its size along with weight, engineers in Sydney uses the material for
structural framework related to tall modern building as well as large industrial facilities. Steel
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could be installed in any type of environment and it could be susceptible to corrosion when
improperly maintained or installed. In the country, steel is considered as extremely recycled
material because it loses little integrity within reproduction procedures as well as could be
reapplied in multiple ways. Construction engineers and designers favour steel because of its
adaptability and implementation in almost all kinds of infrastructure environment.
The materials, steel and concrete have been chosen on the basis of cost effectiveness for
constructing projects. Steel binds well with concrete and has similar thermal expansion
coefficient. These material provide deep foundations and are made to closer tolerance that
translates into quick erection. Steel is essentially infinitely recycled as well as reused without
degradation (Sydney-Hilton and Vila-Lopez, 2020). In Sydney, with flows of Steel and Concrete,
sustainability can be improved as these materials have high strength along with reinforcing
potential that enable reducing wider use of construction materials, conserving resources addition
to energy along with permitting future proofing of structures that are to be modified addition to
extended later. With cross collaboration along with communication among people in
construction industry of Sydney, efficient use of materials, streamline operations and innovative
design, use of the materials can continually decrease carbon emission contributing to improving
sustainability of the region.
In accordance to Hutton (2021), it has been evaluated that material flow in UK was
predicted as 971 million tonnes in the year 2018 that was equivalent to 14.6 tonnes per individual
(Hutton, 2021). In the year 2019, steel produced in the region was approximate of 7 million
tonnes. Steel production and flow in the region enhanced to 710 thousand tonnes in December
2021 from around 702 thousand tonnes in November 2020. However, from the viewpoints of
Statista Research Department (2022), it is evaluated that volume of more than 298 thousand
metric tons’ steel was forecasted to be produced and flowed in region of Singapore in 2018
(Statista Research Department, 2022). In present years, demand and flow of steel has been
unstable because of uncertainties within construction market.
The system boundary of Sydney stretch 88 kilometres from Palm beach in north to
Waterfall in South as well as 70 kilometres from Bondi beach in east to Emu Plains in West (Li
2018). Within the system boundary of Sydney, construction industry over last decades has been
dominated through usage of reinforced concrete and steel, specifically, concerned with multi
storey building. The tracking of usage of Steel and Concrete in construction industry is important
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as these are innovative areas which have been promulgated in construction industry of Sydney to
design together with construct multi storey buildings. It is already known that steel is used in
construction industry of Sydney as it bonds well with concrete together with expands and
contract because of temperature at similar rates. Moreover, recycling factor makes steel cheaper
against concrete because the majority of steel that is manufactured presently in the region comes
from recycled materials. It reflects that steel has minimal impact or influences on environment of
Sydney. Usage of high steel strength in constructing buildings at the region has been
predominately for utilisation in columns and in trusses with ample important benefits.
2. Construction of material flow model for region of interest
Material flow model is quantification together with assessment of matter and substances
mass flows along with processes within a system that includes city, country, etc in specific time
period (Islam and Huda, 2019). In aspect to material flow of steel and concrete in construction
within Sydney, assumptions are as follows:
 It is assumed that overall waste management and processes of management of the
materials occurred on continuous basis.
 Knowledge related to transformation, transport together with storage of the materials
forms base for resource potentials as well as risks for health of humans.
 Businesses in construction industry of Sydney aims to entail closing materials and loops
for recovering values within circular economy strategies.
 Materials includes Steel and Concrete are highly used in construction of buildings within
the region.
Sink or Flow Flow of
goods
Material Material flow
or
concentration
Explanation Uncertainty
level
Construction
and
demolition
waste to
landfill.
Around 1.2
million
tonnes of
construction
and
demolition
waste per
Steel Approximate
of 5.5 million
tonnes of steel
is flowed
across
Sydney.
In the year 2016-
17, 3,822,990
waste of steel was
generated
(Resource circular
economy:
Opportunities to
Waster
generate rate
is rounded to
nearest of
450 - 550
kg/t. the data
is thought to
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year. reduce waste
disposal across the
supply chain,
2021).
EPA predicted
recycling rate of
steel is 70.9
percent (Ferrous
Metals: Material-
Specific Data,
2021)
be accurate
temporarily.
Data is
related to
Sydney.
Nonetheless,
because of
scale of
report and
lack of other
data sources,
the
assumption is
fine.
Construction
and
demolition
waste to
waste stream
Approximate
of 6 million
tonnes of
concrete
flows
annually.
Concrete In the region,
around 8.9
million
tonnes of
cement is
flowed and
23.9 million
m³ of pre-
mixed
concrete is
concentrated
annually.
In the year 2019-
20, construction
and building
industry of Sydney
produces 27
million tonnes of
waste
(Construction
Waste in
Australia… What’s
the story. 2022)
Through its
nature alone,
concrete is
not waste.
The data is
considered to
be correct.
3. Identification of biggest sources of uncertainty in the model. Discussion of shortcomings and
identify some ways the data quality be improved in a longer and better resourced study
Within the material flow model, one of biggest sources of uncertainty is short timeframe
as collection of data about the region is not possible in limited time period. Short time frame
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impacts accuracy of the model as leads time affects total material flow level. It makes the data
unpredictable and influences individuals to rely more on demand forecasts for analysing material
flows. At same time, unreliable information concerned with flow or concentration of materials,
such as Steel and Concrete. Exposure to unreliable information contributes in comprehension
complexities that are confusion, reliance and doubt that are causes for concern to encounter
material flow.
Shortcomings of the material flow model in context to steel and concrete is that it adds
weight of both materials directly for enhancing substitution of resources (Zou and Et. Al., 2019).
Furthermore, the model implies probability that replacement of resources is possible with one or
other resources and ignores quality differences among each other. As these materials flows
through a system in distinct manner, it becomes complex to obtain enough data for making
comprehensive analysis. In longer as well as better resource study, data quality can be improved
through understanding the data. For trusted usage, an individual not only require data about
material flow which is right, however, need right data. It is correctly said that not all data are
equal. For this, understanding data correctly can improve data quality as it helps in seeing
whether it is right or relevant for intended purpose. Another way for making improvisation in
data quality for longer and better resourced study is using option sets as well as normalising the
data. At the time, when data is entered in distinct forms, people make mistakes. They might use
different numbers or alphabets and forget about it. Whenever possible, using defined list of
option sets and normalisation tools can help in resolving data inconsistencies for the purpose of
improving data quality.
4. On the basis of principles of Circular Economy as well as outcomes of the model, ways can
management of materials in the region could be improved.
As per principles of Circular Economy along with results of the model, management of
materials, including, steel and concrete in Sydney can be improved with establishment of proper
material order processes. It is significant for construction businesses in Sydney to have
knowledge related to current materials amount that they have in stock at all durations. Effective
order of material processes needs that an organisation has accurate estimates of turnover rates
(Anshassi, Laux and Townsend, 2019). Another way for improving material management is time
that every move a company make. Lot of material management success is due because of timing.
Time is key when forecasting required time. To improve material management, construction
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companies in Sydney must ensure to meet demands of customer because they arise at the time of
avoiding overstocking in periods of low demand which enhances inventory costs. Moreover,
proper analysis can also improve management of materials in Sydney. It is because it not only
cover managing inventory, also include maintaining financial aspects. Construction businesses of
Sydney must exploit effective inventory system which keeps an account of total purchase along
with sale of each material for proper analysis. Maintaining and updating accounts of material
inventory on monthly basis also facilitates in improving material management in the region.
CONCLUSION
From the information presented above, it is concluded that environment management
emphasises towards consumption along with waste generation of materials or resources.
Environment managers can reduce consumption of materials while looking ways to divert waste
from landfills through reuse, recycle or repurpose. Material flow analysis is analytical method
for quantifying stocks and flows of various materials in well stated system. Ways to improve
management of materials in the region can be establishment of proper material order processes,
proper analysis and time that every move a company make.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Anshassi, M., Laux, S. J. and Townsend, T. G., 2019. Approaches to integrate sustainable
materials management into waste management planning and policy. Resources,
Conservation and Recycling. 148. pp.55-66.
Evangelista, A. C. J., Tam, V. W. and Huang, Z., 2019, November. Evaluation of Barriers to
Encourage Off-Site Construction in Sydney. In International Symposium on
Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate (pp. 1925-1933). Springer.
Islam, M. T. and Huda, N., 2019. Material flow analysis (MFA) as a strategic tool in E-waste
management: Applications, trends and future directions. Journal of Environmental
Management. 244. pp.344-361.
Li, X. and Et. Al., 2018. Functional MXene materials: progress of their applications. Chemistry–
An Asian Journal. 13(19). pp.2742-2757.
Ma, Y., Zhang, Q. and Yin, H., 2020. Environmental management and labor productivity: The
moderating role of quality management. Journal of environmental management, 255,
p.109795.
Sydney-Hilton, E. and Vila-Lopez, N., 2020. Is marketing investment similar cross-
industry?. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing.
Zou, T. and Et. Al., 2019. A three-dimensional model featuring material flow, value flow and
organization for environmental management accounting. Journal of Cleaner
Production. 228. pp.619-633.
Online:
Construction Waste in Australia… What’s the story. 2022. [Online]. Available through:
https://sydneycityrubbish.com.au/construction-waste-in-australia-whats-the-story/
Ferrous Metals: Material-Specific Data. 2021. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/ferrous-
metals-material-specific-data>
Hutton. G. 2021. UK Steel Industry: Statistics and Policy. [Online]. Available through:
<https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7317/CBP-7317.pdf>
Resource circular economy: Opportunities to reduce waste disposal across the supply chain.
2021. [Online]. Available through: <http://sbenrc.com.au/app/uploads/2020/09/1.65-
Report-5.-Material-case-study-Steel.pdf>
Statista Research Department. 2022. Steel production in Singapore 2017-2018. [Online].
Available through: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031581/singapore-steel-
production/
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