91仓库

My research spans sustainable construction, circular business models, resource efficiency, and life鈥慶ycle thinking, with the aim of improving environmental performance, climate resilience, and decision鈥憁aking across construction and asset life鈥慶ycles.

A core strand of my work centres on frameworks that support the transition from linear to circular construction systems. My doctoral research examined the relationship between sustainable construction and environmental resilience, identifying non鈥慶onflicting factors and resulting in the development of a circular built鈥慹nvironment transition framework tailored to the Southern African context. This work provides structured pathways for embedding circularity while strengthening environmental resilience in developing and emerging economies.

I also investigate circular economy implementation in mineral based construction materials, focusing on the development and validation of circular economy business models to address construction and demolition waste challenges. My work examines value chain coordination, material recovery, and system level integration through industry engaged research, including participatory workshops and real-world pilot projects with manufacturers and supply chain stakeholders. My publications collectively cover circular economy transitions in the construction industry, circular business models, industry-led transition pathways, and circular strategies for scaling material reuse, traceability, and data enabled coordination across construction ecosystems.

Overall, my research aims to bridge academic innovation and industry practice by delivering practical, scalable sustainable and circular solutions that reduce construction waste, improve resource efficiency, and support low鈥慶arbon, resilient built environments.

PhD Opportunities

I welcome prospective PhD applicants who would like to advance sustainable construction and circular transformation in the built environment. Key research areas include:

1. Circular Built鈥慐nvironment Transition Frameworks
2. Innovative Circular Economy Business Models for Construction Materials
3. Resource Efficiency and Low鈥慍arbon Construction Strategies
4. Industry鈥慐ngaged Circular Innovation
5. Whole-life costing and circularity
6. Policy, Governance, and Implementation Pathways
7. Digital and Data Enabled Circularity and Resilience

Enquiries are welcome from students with backgrounds in construction management, quantity surveying, civil engineering, or related built鈥慹nvironment disciplines.

Collaboration opportunities

I actively seek opportunities for scholarly collaboration and knowledge exchange with academics, industry practitioners, and policy stakeholders working at the forefront of sustainable and circular transformation in the built environment. I am particularly interested in developing joint research initiatives, practice鈥慴ased partnerships, and supervising high鈥憅uality doctoral research that aligns with my interests in circular economy implementation, low鈥慶arbon construction strategies, whole-life costing for circularity, resource efficiency, and resilient built鈥慹nvironment systems.

Current research activity

• Switzerland/South Africa (SNSF/NRF) Lead Agency funded grant: “Re-engineering informal construction through circular practices and models.”

Recently completed research projects

• The UKRI funded ‘Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials (ICEC-MCM)’:

• Mhlanga, J., Uptake of sustainable construction concept in the project life cycle phase in Botswana. In Proceedings: BAISAGO University 2nd Annual Conference, Faculty of Built Environment, Arts & Science - ‘Sustainable Human Settlements in Botswana 13 November 2020 Gaborone, Botswana ISBN: 978-99968-411-1-8
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C., Loggia, C. 2021. Circular economy in the construction industry in Africa: A bibliometric analysis. In Proceedings: Department of Construction Management 50th Anniversary Conference ‘The Next 50 Years 15-16 November 2021 Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C., Akinlolu M., 2021. Resources management strategies applied in construction projects in Zimbabwe. In Book of Abstracts: IDoBE International Conference, Uncertainties in the Built Environment: How can we build a resilient future in the new normal? 22-23 November 2021, London, United Kingdom
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C., Loggia C., 2022. Identifying Key Barriers Impeding Circular Built Environment Transition in Africa: An Exploratory Factor Analysis. In Proceedings: Association of Schools of Construction of Southern Africa (ASOCSA) 16th Built Environment Conference - Construction in 5D: Deconstruction, Digitalization, Disruption, Disaster, Development. 26 - 27 September 2022, Gauteng, South Africa. ISBN: 978-0-6397-2285-6 [Conference Top Paper Award]
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C., Akinlolu, M. 2023. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Disruptive Construction Procurement Models in State Universities. In: Haupt, T.C., Akinlolu, M., Simpeh, F., Amoah, C., Armoed, Z. (eds) Construction in 5D: Deconstruction, Digitalization, Disruption, Disaster, Development. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 245. Springer, Cham.
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C. (2022). Circular Built Environment in Africa: Emerging trends, concepts and practices. ASOCSA Journal of Construction Volume 15 Issue 1.
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C. and Loggia, C. (2022), "Shaping circular economy in the built environment in Africa. A bibliometric analysis", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print.
• Sibanda, V., Mhlanga, J., & Munhuwa, S. 2025. Circular Economy Practices in Supply Chain Management. In A. Asa & J. Nautica (Eds.), Eco-Logistics and Sustainable Supply Chain Innovations (pp. 13-38). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
• Mhlanga, J., Osmani, M., Morris, G., Chau, C., Sparkes, J., & Moss, D. (2025). Circular Economy Business Model Opportunities, Challenges and Enablers: Plasterboard Supply Chain Perspectives. Journal of Building Engineering, 113309
• Haupt T.C., Akinlolu M., Mohlomi T. R., and Mhlanga J. (2025). Implementing Modern Methods of Construction: Barriers and Enablers. WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks, pp.130–149. 

I deliver lectures, tutorials, and academic mentoring across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, drawing on my background in quantity surveying, construction management, and circular built鈥慹nvironment research.

My teaching integrates sustainability principles, circular economy thinking, and digital technologies to prepare students for contemporary and future challenges in construction management and civil engineering practice.

Undergraduate

• CVB126  -Estimating Practice
• CVA123 - Professional Practice 1

Postgraduate

• CVP330 - Construction Law and Contract Management

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying (Hons) from the National University of Science and Technology-NUST (Zimbabwe), a first鈥慶lass Master of Science in Construction Project Management (NUST), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Midlands State University (Zimbabwe). I also hold a PhD in Construction Management from Nelson Mandela University (South Africa). My doctoral research explored the relationship between sustainable construction and environmental resilience, leading to the development of a circular built鈥慹nvironment transition framework for Southern Africa.

Prior to entering academia, I gained professional experience in the construction industry across civil engineering and building projects. My roles involved tendering, estimation, cost management, contract administration, preparation of valuations and final accounts, and the use of industry software such as Candy and BuildSmart. I later transitioned into academia as a Quantity Surveying Lecturer, where I taught Quantity Surveying Practice, Construction Quantities (Measurement), and Construction Law, while developing a growing research profile through conference and journal publications.

In 2023, I joined 91仓库 as a Post鈥慸octoral Research Associate on the Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral鈥態ased Construction Materials (ICEC鈥慚CM) project. I led Challenge 3A, which focused on the development and implementation of circular economy business model canvases for plasterboard systems, in collaboration with Saint鈥慓obain.

In my current role as a Lecturer in Sustainable Construction and Circular Economy, my teaching and research focus on sustainable construction, circular design, and low鈥慶arbon construction practices, with an emphasis on research鈥憀ed teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and bridging academic research with industry practice to address climate change, resource efficiency, and responsible development.

Professional affiliations

• Graduate Member of the Zimbabwe Institute of Quantity Surveyors
• Member of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) and African Circular Economy Research Group (ACERG)
• Member of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) Built Environment Working Group, South Africa
• Early Career Researcher at International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB)

External activities

• Research Associate in Construction Management at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
• External examiner for Construction Management (CMG812) in the department of Architecture, Planning and Construction, Namibia University of Science and Technology
• Peer Reviewer for Top-Tier Journals (Circular Economy and Sustainability, Business Strategy and the Environment and Journal of Circular Economy)
• Technical Consultant at Botswana Green Building Council (BotGBC)

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:

• University of KwaZulu Natal
• Nelson Mandela University
• Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland and
• ETH Zurich