From circular strategies to actions: 65 European circular building cases and their decarbonisation potential

Nußholz, Julia L.K.; Çetin, Sultan; Eberhardt, Leonora Charlotte Malabi; Wolf, Catherine G.; Bocken, Nancy

doi:10.1016/j.rcradv.2023.200130

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Elevating sustainability levels is usually achieved using less energy or technological means with a lower energy footprint. The presence of the terms in the red cluster confirms this fact even more emphatically [32,33].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

A Spotlight on Environmental Sustainability in View of the European Green Deal

Stefanis,

Stavropoulos,

Stavropoulou

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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This bibliometric study investigates the scientific landscape of environmental sustainability within the European Green Deal (EGD) framework. Utilizing data from the Scopus and Science Direct databases, the study aims to map research trends and frontiers, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving discourse on sustainability. The EGD’s ambitious goal to render the European Union climate-neutral by 2050 is highlighted, showcasing its significant impact across multiple sectors. The study reveals the integration of new methods and broadening research scopes by employing modern bibliometric techniques. Key thematic focuses include the transition to a circular economy and the emphasis on sustainable resource management, underpinning the EGD’s comprehensive approach to combining economic growth with environmental protection. The analysis unveils the critical role of technological innovation and policy reforms in advancing toward a sustainable, competitive, and climate-neutral economy. The research demonstrates the pivotal role of empirical studies in guiding policy formulation and implementation, showing how targeted measures in resource and energy productivity, combined with a decisive shift towards renewable energy, are integral to fostering a sustainable, competitive, and climate-neutral economy. This convergence of findings reinforces the argument that a multifaceted approach, encompassing policy, technology, and innovation, is essential for navigating the challenges of environmental sustainability and climate change, aligning closely with the overarching aims of the EGD.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

A Spotlight on Environmental Sustainability in View of the European Green Deal

Stefanis,

Stavropoulos,

Stavropoulou

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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“…The systematic literature reviews have been conducted on the Scopus database in which the review articles have addressed similar arguments related to the circular economy implementation in the built environment [46,72]. The flowchart (Figure 3) illustrates the various phases conducted in the two sequential systematic literature reviews.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circularity as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy in the Building Sector: The Stakeholder’s Involvement in the Interconnected Life Cycle Phases

Kaya

Scolaro

2023

Sustainability

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There is an evident relationship between climate change and the building sector through reciprocal environmental impacts. The circular economy is fitted into this relationship as a mitigation strategy in the building sector, thanks to its nature of life cycle perspective consideration, support for stakeholder collaboration, and the ideology of waste minimization, reduction of natural resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. This article aims to conduct two subsequential systematic literature reviews to evaluate the status in the scientific literature about the circular economy as a climate change mitigation strategy in the building sector and to find the place taken in the scientific literature about the stakeholder’s involvement toward circularity transition in the abovementioned link. As a result of the methodological approach, publicly available and reliable publications have been identified and analyzed based on the publication year and territory. The results indicate an increasing scientific literature contribution about the context, but the stakeholder concept is considerably taken less place; thus, it is a gap in the scientific literature. The stakeholder focal point, which the innovativeness of this article lays down, needs more attention in academic research, thus in the sector with the strengthening collaboration and mutual awareness among stakeholders.

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“…The construction industry is undergoing a gradual and progressive shift towards CE, as determined and affirmed by Charef et al [57]. Indeed, the building industry is beginning to adopt circular strategies, as illustrated by the work of Nußholz et al [58]. In their study, they examined 65 real-world cases of new construction, renovation, and demolition projects in Europe, considering the circular solutions employed, the extent of their application in buildings, and the reported potential for decarbonization.…”

Section: Extending Product Lifespan and End-of-life Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circular Material Usage Strategies and Principles in Buildings: A Review

Santos,

Cervantes,

Zaragoza-Benzal

et al. 2024

Buildings

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Building construction accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production. Applying circular economy (CE) principles in the building construction industry would considerably reduce these values. However, uptake by the industry is relatively slow, which is largely attributed to sectoral barriers, including limitations in knowledge and experience. This review paper aims to assess and contribute to diminishing these obstacles by offering a comprehensive review of circular material usage principles and strategies within the construction sector. Opportunities and facilitators of change are also presented, including innovations and emerging technologies in recycling, digitization, robotic systems, novel materials, and processing. Finally, four case studies demonstrate the application of circular theory via a novel block system, recycled aggregate, modular kitchen reuse, and an energy efficiency retrofit. The conclusions show that future efforts should prioritize the development of strong regulatory frameworks, awareness initiatives, and international cooperation. In this regard, the integration of technological advancements, such as AI, robotics, and blockchain, is essential for optimizing waste management efficiency. Furthermore, education on circular practices plays a critical role. Through global collaboration, standardizing circular construction approaches can promote a more sustainable and resilient building construction industry.

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From circular strategies to actions: 65 European circular building cases and their decarbonisation potential

Cited by 19 publications

References 64 publications

A Spotlight on Environmental Sustainability in View of the European Green Deal

A Spotlight on Environmental Sustainability in View of the European Green Deal

Circularity as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy in the Building Sector: The Stakeholder’s Involvement in the Interconnected Life Cycle Phases

Circular Material Usage Strategies and Principles in Buildings: A Review

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