London 13 May 2025 – Today, WorldGBC launched a new Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework, which will be presented at the WorldGBC hosted accelerator session on 15 May 2025, ‘Retrofitting buildings: Lessons from a global network’, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF2025), a global event dedicated to the circular economy, on 13–16 May 2025.
Developed by WorldGBC’s Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) of 17 Green Building Councils (GBCs) as well as knowledge partners, the Framework is a practical roadmap aimed at policymakers and businesses across the region to assess their circularity readiness and identify strategic priorities for action to decarbonise their building stock on both a national and regional scale.
The Framework can be used as a tool to quantify the business case for circular, sustainable principles in the built environment, and support businesses and governments to reduce waste, conserve resources and lower carbon emissions. It bridges the gap between ambition and implementation – by showing industry the practical steps they can take now towards circularity, based on their current capabilities. This practical approach is what sets the Framework apart; it sets out clear assessment criteria, specific readiness indicators and actionable guidance based on five interconnected elements:
The Framework further supports WorldGBC’s new 2025–2027 strategic plan, which outlines the vision for a sustainable built environment, guided by global 2030 decarbonisation goals.
Joy Gai, Head of Asia Pacific Network, WorldGBC:
“The Framework has been developed by sustainability experts from the Asia Pacific, one of the most diverse regions in the world, which is defined by remarkable complexities of culture, building stocks and environmental conditions. Our network recognises that harnessing diversity is fundamental to shaping a more resilient, resource-efficient future — but we need a guide to show us how to put our ambition into action. That is why we developed the APN Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework.
“WorldGBC is proud to join our Green Building Councils and partners in launching this timely resource. It creates a common language to guide businesses through collaboration, identifying their needs and applying circular methods which support our shared vision for a sustainable and regenerative future for Asia Pacific and beyond.”
Jeff Oatman, Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional network, Head of Collaboration and membership at Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA):
“The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework is a timely and much-needed initiative to accelerate the transition to a more regenerative and resource-efficient built environment across our region. By offering a clear pathway for assessing readiness and driving action, it empowers governments, industry, and communities to make smarter, more sustainable decisions around circularity. I’m proud to be part of this collaboration and to contribute to a tool that not only fosters innovation but also supports practical outcomes that matter for people and the planet.”
Christopher Cruz de la Cruz, Vice Chair of Asia Pacific Regional Network, CEO of the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC):
“I see the Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework as a powerful catalyst for Asia Pacific. It goes beyond cutting waste and emissions — it turns sustainability into a strategic advantage. With this Framework, we’re not just building greener — we’re building smarter, leaner, and ready for the future.
“I’m proud the Philippines is part of this movement. It positions us — and the region — as leaders in turning challenges into opportunity: transforming waste into value, driving green innovation, and creating jobs in a low-carbon economy. This isn’t just the future of building — it’s the future of Asia-Pacific leadership.”
Yvonne Soh, CEO, Singapore Green Building Council:
“Circularity in the built environment is a challenging goal that will require us to rethink how we design, construct, use, and eventually deconstruct buildings. We will need a coordinated approach across the value chain. Circularity is, however, also a goal that will drive innovation and long-term sustainability.
Singapore is actively pursuing a circular economy through the Zero Waste Masterplan – to reduce emissions, maximise resource efficiency and resilience, and conserve landfill space. The launch of the Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework comes at a pivotal time, coinciding with growing industry interest and efforts in Singapore to address infrastructure and technological challenges. The Framework consolidates all the necessary measures into a single, accessible resource, enabling us to systematically address key barriers. SingaporeGBC looks forward to tapping into the Framework to be the enabler for circularity in our built environment.”
Christopher Cruz de la Cruz, Vice Chair of Asia Pacific Regional Network, CEO Philippine Green Building Council
“I see the Circularity Readiness Framework as a powerful catalyst for Asia-Pacific. It goes beyond cutting waste and emissions — it turns sustainability into a strategic advantage. With this framework, we’re not just building greener — we’re building smarter, leaner, and ready for the future.
I’m proud the Philippines is part of this movement. It positions us—and the region—as leaders in turning challenges into opportunity: transforming waste into value, driving green innovation, and creating jobs in a low-carbon economy. This isn’t just the future of building — it’s the future of Asia-Pacific leadership.”
M Anand, Deputy Executive Director, IndiaGBC:
“The launch of the Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework represents a pivotal milestone in our collective pursuit of a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. By embedding principles of integrated waste management and green procurement, this initiative lays the groundwork for a unified global movement toward circularity and responsible development.
“IndiaGBC through its Mission on Net Zero is also supporting stakeholders in transitioning to a circular economy that balances environmental sustainability with economic viability. The mission is aligned with the Government of India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines and holds significant potential to foster inclusive practices and establish a holistic circular ecosystem.
“We are proud to be a part of this transformative journey towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient built environment.”
Hang Phan, Chairperson of the Board, Vietnam Green Building Council:
“The challenge of resource scarcity, particularly for key construction materials like sand and aggregate, is becoming increasingly critical in Vietnam. Addressing circularity in the construction sector is not important — it’s essential for the sector’s survival. Achieving circularity, however, requires robust collaboration among diverse stakeholders across the entire value chain. No single entity can drive this transformation alone.
“The significance of circularity is on par with zero carbon efforts; in fact, these two critical topics are deeply intertwined and complement each other. The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework can serve as a vital guide for policymakers and all stakeholders, fostering collaboration towards this crucial goal.”
Architect Jayantha Perera, Chairman, Green Building Council of Sri Lanka:
“Sri Lanka’s construction sector is at a critical juncture where traditional ‘take-make-dispose’ models are no longer viable. With increasing environmental pressures — including high volumes of construction waste and resource constraints — the Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework offers timely, region-specific guidance to reimagine how we design, build, and live.
We are proud to contribute to this collaborative initiative through the Asia Pacific Network and are committed to leveraging the Framework to influence policy, scale practical solutions, and empower our communities to build regeneratively. By embedding circular economy principles from the outset, we can transform our built environment into a resilient foundation for sustainable development and environmental stewardship.”
Mitch Gelber, CEO, Malaysia Green Building Council:
“The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework arrives at a critical time for Malaysia, as we work to reduce construction waste, enhance resource efficiency and decarbonise our built environment. At MalaysiaGBC, we’re proud to support this collective effort to advance circular thinking across government, industry, and finance. The Framework enables us to benchmark national progress, address policy and capacity gaps, and scale solutions that accelerate resilience, equity, and a just transition to a zero-waste future.”
Tim Wedemeyer, Head of Sustainability Best Practices PDS APAC, JLL:
“Circularity is too often not given enough attention, yet plays a critical role in eliminating carbon emissions associated with virgin material products, which for some buildings can outweigh all other emissions. Plus, most of the world’s natural resources are far from infinite, yet our generation is taking and disposing without regard to the future. With the vast array of circular solutions, from simple reuse to design-for-disassembly to urban mining, and the ‘word salad’ in between, more circularity solutions are needed in our buildings, meaning a louder voice for a more circular future is essential. This is why it’s an honour contributing to WorldGBC’s development of the Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework.”
Takuji Kohama, Chief Representative, AGC Group for Asia Pacific:
“A resilient built environment relies on understanding ecological interconnections and making a conscious shift from linear consumption to cyclical resource stewardship. Designing buildings and infrastructures with their lifecycle in mind maximizes material efficiency and minimizes waste through a holistic approach from resource sourcing to end-of-life. Prioritizing design for disassembly, material recovery, reuse, and repurpose transforms buildings into dynamic material banks, significantly reducing construction’s environmental impact and fostering economic and environmental sustainability.
“Participating in the formulation of Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework offers a practical path to sustainable growth in our resource-constrained and climate-challenged region. This framework empowers built environment stakeholders to adopt a regenerative, resilient mindset focused on long-term value creation, redefining design, construction, and living beyond waste minimization. We aim to catalyse greater collaboration, innovation, and systemic change, positioning AGC as a regional leader in circular economy practices and a model for urban sustainability.”
Spokesperson, Green Building Council Indonesia:
“The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework is a timely game changer for the building and construction industry, especially in regions like ours where rapid urban growth must align with environmental responsibility. This framework invites us to look beyond just buildings — it challenges us to rethink how we use resources throughout their entire lifecycle. With its five pillars — government leadership, finance, data, technical solutions, and mindset — it provides a comprehensive path to embed circular economy principles into practice. We are proud to be part of this global initiative that reflects what our region truly needs: practical, scalable solutions that regenerate rather than deplete. We believe this framework will empower stakeholders across sectors to take bold, measurable action and help future-proof our built environment. Let this be the spark that shifts our industry from extractive to regenerative, and from business-as-usual to truly sustainable.”
GBCs will use the Framework to assess their own readiness to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the built environment, as well as supporting the Asia Pacific market and beyond into a greater level of readiness. To find out more, contact your local Green Building Council. You can also follow the campaign on how our network is united on our call to #BeBoldOnBuildings.
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