Circular Economy Strategies in the Construction Industry for Enhancing Sustainability and Reducing Environmental Impacts
Keywords:
Circular economy, construction industry, sustainability strategies, construction waste, macro-policyAbstract
This study aimed to systematically identify and analyze circular economy strategies in the construction industry and develop an integrated strategic framework for enhancing environmental sustainability, improving resource efficiency, and reducing waste generation through the transition from linear to circular construction systems. This research employed a qualitative systematic review design. Relevant scientific articles, policy documents, review studies, and international reports addressing circular economy implementation in the construction sector were identified and selected through a structured literature review process. The collected documents were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Through iterative coding and thematic synthesis, major strategic categories, implementation barriers, institutional drivers, sustainability outcomes, and managerial implications associated with circular construction were identified and integrated into a comprehensive conceptual framework. The analysis revealed four major thematic dimensions governing the transition toward circular construction. First, macro-level circular strategies were classified into waste prevention, design for durability, design for disassembly, material reuse, advanced recycling, circular supply chains, digital material management, and service-based business models. Second, implementation barriers included information asymmetry, fragmented governance structures, regulatory complexity, insufficient market transparency, and limited institutional coordination, while government support, financial incentives, technological innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and public awareness emerged as key institutional drivers. Third, circular economy implementation demonstrated substantial positive effects on environmental sustainability indicators, including carbon footprint reduction, resource conservation, waste minimization, landfill diversion, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced urban environmental quality. Fourth, the synthesis of findings resulted in an integrated strategic conceptual framework in which digital infrastructure, institutional capacity, economic incentives, and technical strategies operate synergistically to facilitate circular economy adoption and long-term sustainability within the construction industry. The findings indicate that successful implementation of circular economy principles in the construction industry requires an integrated and systemic approach that combines strategic planning, supportive governance, technological innovation, economic incentives, and stakeholder collaboration. Circular construction represents not only an environmental necessity but also a strategic pathway toward sustainable resource management, enhanced competitiveness, and long-term resilience. The proposed conceptual framework provides a practical roadmap for policymakers, managers, and industry stakeholders seeking to accelerate the transition toward a sustainable and circular built environment.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Rahimi Shafeghat (Corresponding author); Ali Delnavaz (Author)
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