Circular economy in the built environment: A systematic literature review and definition of the circular construction concept

Abstract

The Circular Economy (CE) has become increasingly important across various industries. It challenges the traditional take-make-dispose approach and aims to maximize economic value while reducing waste. However, the construction industry is still in the early stages of adopting this concept, and a clear and unified definition is needed for Circular Construction (CC) in the built environment. Without a comprehensive understanding, the CE principles and practices may be misapplied, leading to inefficiencies. To address this, a Systematic Literature Review of 316 publications was conducted to bridge knowledge gaps and to propose a definition for CC. The study identified five clusters of conceptual affinities and nine attributes that contributed to the CC definition. The results suggest that the CC concept is mainly related to the conceptual affinities of Construction and Demolition Waste Management (CDWM) and the “R" strategies, that the environment is prioritized over economic and social aspects, and that CC research focuses on building over other infrastructures, especially on aspects of building disassembly and reversibility. Still, despite these advances, most research lacks a holistic view of the application of the concept. Practitioners looking to promote cleaner construction practices can benefit from this study's valuable insights, helping to guide decision-making and prevent the misuse of the circular economy concept in the built environment.