Towards Sustainable Construction: A Systematic Review of Circular Economy Strategies and Ecodesign in the Built Environment

Abstract

This review discusses the unsustainable nature of current production and consumption patterns, particularly in the civil construction sector. To address this, the circular economy model has been proposed as a solution, but the impact reduction of circular strategies (CS) is not well understood. Thus, aligning CS with ecodesign can help achieve sustainable development. We conducted a systematic review of studies on CS and ecodesign strategies (ES) in the built environment, which led us to identify 23 essential strategies, including reuse, recycling, design for disassembly, and design for life extension. This article expands on previous research by identifying 51 CS and ES, some of which are interconnected, and adopting one strategy may benefit another. The authors propose a framework based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act concept to support and manage trade-offs when selecting strategies and to facilitate a collaborative decision-making process. The framework can also help manage the effects of using these strategies on circularity and environmental, social, and economic performance, ultimately improving the construction sector’s environmental performance.

Implementing Circular Economy throughout the Construction Project Life Cycle: A Review on Potential Practices and Relationships

“…Reusing secondary materials and components in new productions appears as the most cited CE practice during the manufacturing stage. Agreeing with that, Eberhardt, Birkved [23] and Timm, Maciel [60] identified that the most common CE strategies in the construction sector are related to reusing materials. It also reduces the energy consumption of the manufacturing processes in the construction industry and other industries [26].…”

“…Thus, this study categorised the same under the 'other' category of CE practices. A passport for a material is a collection of data and indicators that enhances the transparency of material or system properties and assists in measuring and optimising its effectiveness [7,60,63]. Applying take-back and trade-in systems is another well-cited CE practice in the literature, which relates to the CE business model context.…”

Mega-Projects in Construction: Barriers in the Implementation of Circular Economy Concepts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…Implementing CE strategies in the construction sector promises numerous benefits, including but not limited to cost reduction, environmental preservation, and the enhancement of societal well-being [10,16,19,20]. Furthermore, CE can play a vital role in contributing to the sustainability in the sector [20]. According to Pomponi and Moncaster [21], circular construction involves elements/systems that extend their lifespans and reduce waste.…”

Circular Modality in Construction: an Interdisciplinary Review in Detecting Knowledge Gaps and Future Research Trajectories

“…Waris, M., et al, 2014 [59] largely researched on onsite mechanization in Malaysian construction. Timm, J.F.G et al, 2023 [60] adopted a framework in the sequence of Plan-Do-Check-Act to support trade-offs in collaborative decision-making. While Gamage, I. et al, 2024 [61] identified the relationships of highly cited circular practices in the literature, Karaca, F et al, 2024 [62] explained the concept of resource equity in the construction sector.…”