Towards circular and more sustainable buildings: a systematic literature review on the circular economy in the built environment

Abstract

The built environment exerts great pressure on natural resources. Its role in the transition to a circular economy (CE) is critical. However, research from a holistic perspective, including how new business models can enable materials to increase their residual values, need to be deepened. This study provides a comprehensive and holistic overview of how the built environment approaches the study and the actions of the circular economy. Through a systematic literature review, 318 papers were selected and evaluated by two optics: i) a descriptive analysis and ii) a thematic analysis. The descriptive analysis highlights the relevance and incipient nature of circular thinking, the qualitative nature of the research, and the predominance of European countries and China at the forefront of circular research. In the thematic analysis, five axes were established as guiding lines of research, which evidenced the focus of research on minimizing and reusing construction and demolition waste. This study aims to provide the state of the art on CE research through a literature review. The results show research gaps and a theoretical framework was proposed to guide future research. The need for more explanations about CE and circular business models is highlighted, as well as greater integration between stakeholders in the construction value chain. Government support, such as subsidies, laws and tax incentives, is crucial to the strategic performance of decision-makers to introduce circular principles and make buildings and the built environment more sustainable.