Building materials need to be treated as ‘recoverable’ assets, with disassembly and reuse key priorities, ASI sustainability experts have told Australia’s largest building expo.
“The focus in construction on reducing ‘up-front’ carbon needs to shift to a ‘whole-of-life’ approach,” ASI sustainability consultant Jerusha Beresford told a Day 2 audience at the Steel: Circular Solutions for a Sustainable Future presentation at Sydney Build 2026.
“The four Rs apply to building in this circular economy – reduce, remanufacture, reuse and recycle.”
In an accompanying presentation, ASI sustainability scheme manager Melinda Coles explored a disassembly and reuse case study featuring the award-winning St Marys Integrated Project Office (IPO) - a sustainable, four-level temporary office hub built for the Sydney Metro—Western Sydney Airport project.
Designed by Robert Bird Group and built for sustainability, it uses steel and cross-laminated timber for easy disassembly, reassembly, and future reuse. The design was a winner in last year’s ASI sustainability awards for its reuse and reduction in embodied carbon features.
ASI sustainability experts Melinda Coles (bottom left) and Jerusha Beresford take the ‘circularity’ message to the public.