Challenges to implementing circular economy: empirical evidence among built environment firms in Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the challenges built environment (BE) professionals (comprising Contractors/Construction Managers, Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, Real Estate Practitioners, and Quantity Surveyors) encounter in implementing the principles of circular economy (CE) in the Ghanaian building industry (GBI). A structured questionnaire survey was used to solicit the views of 162 industry professionals working in construction, consulting, and developer firms on the issue under investigation. The questions were developed through a review of related literature. Data obtained were analyzed via descriptive (i.e. mean score ranking) and inferential statistics (i.e. Kruskal-Wallis H test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses). The findings reveal that BE professionals encounter seven major categories of challenges. These are knowledge and facilities challenges, market orientation and operational challenges, financial challenges, environmental and regulatory challenges, preferential challenges, technological challenges, and industrial and consumer-related challenges. This finding can inform the various construction industry stakeholders of the challenges currently encountered in implementing CE principles. Furthermore, these identified challenges must encourage concerted efforts among stakeholders to find ways to boost the practice of CE principles in the GBI.