A taxonomy of circular economy terminologies: insights from the construction industry

The construction sector predominantly follows a linear economic model, which necessitates a shift towards embracing the Circular Economy (CE) principles. Even though several CE approaches have been introduced for the construction context, numerous barriers have hindered their implementation. Confusion of CE terminologies with a lack of awareness is identified as one of the main barriers to the successful implementation of CE in the construction industry. Hence, this research focuses on differentiating the CE terminologies based on their academic definitions to establish a consolidated and comprehensive understanding and thereby, aims to develop a taxonomy for CE terminologies for the construction industry. This research adopted qualitative comparative literature analysis research methodology and selected individualising comparison as a suitable comparison method. To carry out the comparison, the academic definitions from Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries were compared with the definitions from CE-related construction articles. Subsequently, the consolidated definitions were established for selected terminologies by differentiating their ideas. Consequently, the hierarchy of the terminologies was identified to develop a CE taxonomy. This research provides significant guidance for CE researchers for appropriate CE terminology usage in their research, while industry practitioners can gain a wider understanding of CE for its successful implementation in the industry.

Driving systematic circular economy implementation in the construction industry: A construction value chain perspective

Circular Economy (CE) implementation in the construction industry has gained wider attention worldwide due to its ability to minimise the negative impacts of construction industry practices. However, gaps in CE knowledge have hindered CE implementation in the construction industry. Although the necessity of Knowledge Management (KM) for CE transition has been raised in numerous studies, existing literature has a dearth of CE KM studies, which is further limited in the construction context. Thus, this research aims to develop a conceptual framework to manage CE knowledge in construction projects by investigating required CE knowledge for construction professionals. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to achieve this aim by analysing the literature using manual content analysis. The findings of this research highlight the overlaying impact of knowledge and KM on financial, market, technology, policy, and culture-related enablers and barriers of CE implementation in the construction industry. Furthermore, the potential of knowledge on addressing context and concept-related barriers to implementing CE was discussed, and a bespoke KM cycle with seven steps has been established, highlighting the importance of the KM cycle for CE KM rather than using the KM process. Finally, a conceptual framework for CE KM of the construction industry has been developed, revealing a shell view of these concepts. These findings will be beneficial for construction practitioners to i). understand areas of knowledge to be improved, and ii). identify KM actions to initiate improvements to ensure the implementation of CE principles.

Circular economy and the construction industry: Existing trends, challenges and prospective framework for sustainable construction

Purpose This study aims to identify in literature the role of construction stakeholders in the implementation of circular economy (CE) in the construction industry (CI). This study also sought to identify the status quo and research trend, “hot themes”, areas requiring more research and future research direction of stakeholders’ role in CE implementation in the CI. Design/methodology/approach A literature search was conducted using the Scopus search engine, augmented by Google Scholar to produce 50 relevant articles for the identification of stakeholders’ roles using content analysis. The scientometric study was undertaken using VOSviewer on 42 articles obtained from Scopus search to identify the status quo, “hot themes”, knowledge gaps and future research direction of the role of stakeholders in CE implementation. Findings Through content analysis, the identified roles of government as a stakeholder are to develop efficient policy instruments, legislation support and financial investment in research and development activities that will promote the smooth implementation of CE. The role of academia/research is to engage in research aimed at investigating both the short-term behaviour and the durability of recycled materials and products. In addition, the roles of professionals in the consultant/design/procurement team are to design with life cycle assessment and reused materials, design for deconstruction and disassembly, etc. The role of the user/consumer is to ensure knowledge diffusion and awareness exchange that recognize the available opportunities for long-term material usage (including repair, reuse, refurbishment and recycling). The research status quo identified from the scientometric analysis include how stakeholders can come up with innovative ways in demolition that will ensure that more of the materials can be reused. Stakeholders should focus on enacting policies and laws that can promote the use of recycled materials in buildings, etc. Research that focuses on how to engage the various construction stakeholders to come up with specific public policy that will promote CE implementation, identifying the specific roles to be played by stakeholders during policy enactment as well as managing the environment, laws and legislations towards CE implementation. The role of stakeholders in the extension of the life span of projects, the use of strategies to minimize waste generation and standardization of building materials, components and connectors with the purpose of simplifying disassembly are the research gaps and areas for future research studies. Some of the research “hot themes” include “circular business models in the CI”, “environmental sustainability policy implementation”, “environmental, economic and social sustainability”, “policy, laws and legislations on waste management” and “environmental and industrial economics” towards CE implementation. Practical implications The findings from this study serve as a valuable reference for construction stakeholders to assess their specific roles as stakeholders and to identify the status quo and research trend, “hot themes”, areas requiring more research and future research directions on stakeholders’ roles in CE implementation in the CI. Originality/value Identifying the role of stakeholders for CE implementation is one bold step towards the achievement of CE implementation in the CI.

The construction industry (CI)is a significant contributor to worldwide environmental pollution while being a substantial user of finite resources and a substantial generator of waste. The Circular Economy (CE) concept aims to manage raw materials and minimise waste generation. The lack of relevant laws and regulations is a significant barrier to the implementation of CE. It is necessary to have a systematic approach to design and implement CE laws to cover the multi-sector dimensions of the CE concept. Limited research is available on laws and regulations related to the CE in the global and Sri Lankan contexts. This study aims to compare the legislation provisions for CE in CI in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom (UK) for the better implementation of CE in CI in Sri Lanka. The study investigates how CE principles can be integrated into construction strategies in Sri Lanka, drawing from existing legal frameworks in the UK, and conducted through a review of legislation and policies. Findings reveal that the UK has made significant progress in embedding CE principles through legislative support and sustainable construction regulations. However, Sri Lanka is still in the early stages of this transition. This study further identified legal pitfalls in integrating CE practices, including gaps in the enforcement of CE within the Sri Lankan CI. The study concludes with key recommendations for introducing laws, legally supported CE practices in Sri Lanka, CE new legal reforms, and incorporation of CE principles into construction law.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of implementing circular economy (CE), as well as shed light on the influence of procurement strategy in CE implementation in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach with abductive reasoning was adopted. The empirical data were collected from the construction industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).FindingsThe results reveal that clients, consultants and contractors have limited awareness, knowledge and motivation to implement CE in construction projects. The absence of incentives to design projects following CE principles, lack of involvement of contractors and suppliers, non-use of materials that use CE principles and current procurement strategies are the main challenges for the implementation of CE in the UAE.Originality/valuePrevious research offers limited knowledge on CE and its implementation in construction projects particularly from a procurement strategy perspective. The findings of the study provide new knowledge of the benefits, challenges and role of procurement strategy for implementing CE. It is suggested that collaborative and partnering-based procurement methods are needed to facilitate the effective implementation of CE.

The construction industry has become a major cause of environmental pollution as it consumes large number of natural resources and energy. Additionally, large amount of waste is added to the environment due to construction activities. Accordingly, protecting the environment from harmful construction activities is a major responsibility of the construction industry. Therefore, the concept of circular economy (CE) has gained worldwide attention as a solution to material waste in the construction industry, as it aims on more sustainable economy by designing products and processes where resources are efficiently and continuously cycled. However, the implementation of CE in the Sri Lankan construction industry is still at an immature stage. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of the private sector and its potential contribution to the implementation of the CE in the built environment of Sri Lanka. This study has adopted the mixed method and findings emphasize even though that there are many benefits of implementing CE principles in the construction industry, CE principles are still not implemented satisfactorily in the built environment in the Sri Lankan construction industry, at least in the private sector. Also, the findings of the research emphasize that there are barriers under different types such as, technological, social and political for the private sector to implement CE in Sri Lanka's built environment.

A systematic literature review on Circular Economy implementation in the construction industry: a policy-making perspective

PurposeWhile circular economy (CE) is fast becoming a political and economic agenda for global urban development, there are still substantial knowledge gaps in possible strategies to speed up such transition, especially in the construction industry. This study analyses literature surrounding CE to unpack current trends possible future research directions to foster CE implementation in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study undertakes a systematic review of CE literature published between 1990 and 2019. It adopts a five-stage procedure as a methodological approach for the review: formulation of the research question(s), locating and identifying relevant studies, selection and evaluation of studies, analysis or synthesis and results reporting.FindingsThe findings on CE research in the construction industry show extensive focus on resource use and waste management. There are limited investigations in other areas of construction such as supply chain integration, building designs, policy, energy efficiency, land use, offsite manufacturing, whole life costing, and risk, cost reduction, cost management, health and safety management. The study findings provide evidence that current CE practice fails to incorporate other areas that would facilitate the network of true circular construction industry.Originality/valueThis research provides a comprehensive overview of research efforts on CE in the construction context, identifying areas of extensive and limited coverage over three decades. Besides, it identifies possible pathways for future research directions on CE implementation, towards the accelerated transition to a true circular construction industry for the benefit of funding bodies and researchers.

Capabilities for circular economy innovation: Factors leading to product/service innovations in the construction and manufacturing industries

PurposeThis study examines the barriers impeding the implementation of circular economy (CE) practices in the Nigerian architecture, engineering, construction and operation (AECO) industry across diverse regions of Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a quantitative approach using a five-Likert scale questionnaire (Google Forms), utilizing various analytical tools, encompassing descriptive and inferential statistics. This methodological approach allows for a multifaceted exploration of the intricacies surrounding the barriers to circular CE.FindingsThe study identifies and examines 24 CE barriers which are determined to be significant to the implementation of CE. These barriers were categorized into four categories: “Economic”, “Market and Information”, “Policy and Operational” and “ product development”.Research limitations/implicationsThe adopted sampling technique may restrict the generalizability of the findings within and beyond the selected regions. Furthermore, while the analytical methods offer a comprehensive analysis, they may not capture the nuanced intricacies that qualitative methodology could provide. However, the findings can be applied to other developing countries with characteristics similar to those of the Nigerian construction industry.Practical implicationsThe study’s findings are significant for stakeholders such as policymakers, industry and academia. By elucidating CE-specific barriers, the research facilitates the formulation of targeted and tailored strategies, fostering the integration of CE principles in the Nigerian construction industry.Originality/valueThis study presents novel insights into the barriers hindering the implementation of CE in the Nigerian construction industry. Offering tailored strategies and categorizing barriers into clusters adds a unique perspective to CE literature, particularly in developing countries.

PurposeThe exponential growth of the construction sector exerts considerable pressure on the environment, and the circular economy (CE) concept has recently gained traction as a means of alleviating such environmental issues. In order to propose solutions to the phenomenon of contractors being hesitant to participate in CE implementation in developing countries, this paper aims to comprehensively explore the enabling factors that motivate contractors to implement CE.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the push-pull-mooring (PPM) theory and extends it by introducing information provision (IP) as a trigger on contractors’ intrinsic subjective initiative states on CE implementation. The study considers what and how positive pull, negative push and neutral mooring factors influence the contractors’ CE transition. The framework was validated by questionnaires collected from contractors in China, and the data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method.FindingsThe findings indicate that all factors from the PPM framework exert a positive influence on CE intention, with push factors demonstrating a greater average impact. Furthermore, this study confirms the influence of the IP on contractors’ CE intentions by influencing their intrinsic status. The impact of the IP is most pronounced in terms of contractors’ perceived usefulness and environmental concerns.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in the CE transition studies by extending the PPM theory into the construction industry through the lenses of contractors in developing countries. The results highlight the trigger impacts of the IP on contractors’ psychological status regarding CE transition. Furthermore, it offers insights into government management in the CE transition by providing the government with novel approaches to facilitate the CE transition in the construction sector.

Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require tackling both energy-related and non-energy-related GHG emissions, which can be achieved through the transition to a circular economy (CE). The focus of climate change crisis reversal has been on the energy-related continuum over the years through promoting renewable energy uptake and efficiency in energy use. Clean energy transition and efficiency gains in energy use alone will not be sufficient to achieve net-zero emissions in 2050 without paying attention to non-energy-related CO2 emissions. This study systematically reviews the CE literature across different themes, sectors, approaches, and tools to identify accelerators in transitioning to a CE. The study aims to understand and explore how technology, finance, ecosystem, and behavioral studies in the CE paradigm can be integrated as a decision-making tool for CE transition. The material analysis was carried out by identifying the main characteristics of the literature on CE implementation in the agriculture, industry, energy, water, and tourism sectors. Results of the literature survey are synthesized to engender clarity in the literature and identify research gaps to inform future research. Findings show that many studies focused on technology as an accelerator for CE transition, and more studies are needed regarding the CE ecosystem, financing, and behavioral aspects. Also, results show that CE principles are applied at the micro-, meso-, and macro- (national, regional, and global) levels across sectors with the dominance of the industrial sector. The agriculture, water, and energy sectors are at the initial stages of implementation. Additionally, the use of carbon capture and utilization or storage, conceptualized as a circular carbon economy, needs attention in tackling CE implementation in the energy sector, especially in hydrocarbon-endowed economies. The major implication of these findings is that for CE to contribute to accelerated net-zero emission by 2050, coordinated policies should be promoted to influence the amount of financing available to innovative circular businesses and technologies within an ecosystem that engenders behavioral change towards circularity.

Circular economy is a concept that aims to improve resource efficiency by minimizing resource consumption and waste generation. The implementation of circular economy can be conducted at three levels: in single enterprise or group of enterprises, in a group of collocated firms and at the city or municipal level. Currently, implementation of circular economy in Malaysia is at firm level. There is a lack of legal framework on the implementation of circular economy in Malaysia. However, there are certain sections and regulations in Environmental Quality Act 1974, Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 and in Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulation 2005, respectively, that promote resource circulation. Nationwide initiatives taken to promote circular economy are inclusion of integration of sustainable production and consumption, reduction of 40% of greenhouse gas emissions intensity from GDP compared to 2005 level and 22% of recycling of MSW, in Eleventh Malaysian Plan. Additionally, SWCorp has launched SWCorp Strategic Plan to promote sustainable solid waste management services, and CIDB has initiated CITP that has a target of incorporating 20% of recycled construction and demolition waste (tonnage) by year 2020 from baseline of 2016. Also, there are guidelines on coprocessing and proposals on establishment of industrial ecology by DOE. A few case studies show implementation of circular economy in manufacturing industries. The benefits of these implementations were reduction in energy and resource consumption, reduction in waste generation, protection of environment and human health, cost savings by reusing or recycling waste and additional profit gains by selling waste to potential buyers. Several opportunities of sustainable waste management and resource circulation have been highlighted in this chapter such as manufacturing of bioproducts and butanol from biomass to coprocessing between ELVs and construction industry. To successfully implement circular economy, top-down and bottom-up approach is required, and currently, Malaysia does not have explicit top-down and bottom-up approaches.