Dr Jacob Mhlanga

My research and interdisciplinary collaborative projects cover circular economy, sustainable construction, environmental resilience and circular built environment transitions:

• Sustainable production and consumption in construction
• Environmental resilience
• Circular economy business models
• Resource management and material flow analysis
• Informal construction practices

Current research activity

• The UKRI funded ‘Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials (ICEC-MCM)’: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/circular-economy-centre-for-construction-minerals/
• Switzerland/South Africa (SNSF/NRF) Lead Agency funded grant: “Re-engineering informal construction through circular practices and models”

• 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 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97748-1_9
• Mhlanga, J., Haupt, T.C. (2022). Circular Built Environment in Africa: Emerging trends, concepts and practices. ASOCSA Journal of Construction Volume 15 Issue 1 https://journalofconstruction.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/JOC-Volume15-Issue01.pdf
• 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 https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-03-2022-0175
• 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 https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6175-7.ch002

Undergraduate

• Invited guest lecturer at University College London (UCL) to deliver a public lecture on Circular Economy for Gypsum to Civil Engineering students

In 2013 I undertook my Graduate Trainee at Daytona Construction, where I was involved in both tendering and acting as a Site Quantity Surveyor. Thereafter, I joined a civil engineering company, Best Group Construction, as a Quantity Surveyor. I was responsible for tendering, contract administration, and contract management (valuations and final accounts). Later, I joined Integrated Construction Projects (ICP) as a Junior Quantity Surveyor, where I was introduced to taking-off software, Candy and BuildSmart. Following ICP, I joined Midlands State University, as the University Quantity Surveyor. This opportunity gave me an oversight of all the quantity surveying duties across the four campus developments driven by the vibrant University construction unit.

Following years spent in the industry, I then moved to academia and joined BA ISAGO University in 2020, as a Quantity Surveying Lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Quantity Surveying. Over the period, I developed a keen interest in research such that I managed to publish conference and journal articles. Furthermore, it was during this phase that I developed a passion to pursue my PhD in Construction Management focusing on circular built environment transition.

I joined the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, in 2023, as a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-Based Construction Materials (ICEC-MCM) project leading Challenge 3A, which focuses on developing and implementing a circular economy business model canvas for the plasterboard.

Professional affiliations

• Graduate Member of the Zimbabwe Institute of Quantity Surveyors

Key collaborators

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

• Student 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)
• Technical Consultant at Botswana Green Building Council (BotGBC)