Circular economy applications in the construction industry: A global scan of trends and opportunities

Abstract Construction consumes more than 3 billion tons of raw materials globally each year. Adopting circular economy principles can help reduce waste and save more than $100 billion per year by improving construction productivity. This study's overarching objective was to investigate the state of adoption of circular economy principles in the construction sector. A multiple case study approach was used, and adoption opportunities were investigated in a global scan of 81 companies implementing circular economy principles in the construction industry. A knowledge framework with 33 attributes was developed to classify the companies, and their initiatives were analyzed in terms of overall focus, lifecycle operations, and business operations. These companies were categorized into seven identified business types, and their adoption of nine major circular business models was evaluated. Opportunity gaps and areas for improvement were identified, and steps for accelerating the shift towards a circular economy in construction were suggested. Furthermore, specific opportunities and prospects were discussed for implementing a circular economy in the United States, Canada, and the European construction industries. Notably, this study fills a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence of the state of adoption of circular economy principles in the construction sector. Presented findings can help both academics and industry practitioners understand the current state of adoption of circular economy principles by construction companies and accelerate steps towards circularity in construction. Furthermore, the present study highlights the current differences between circular economy in theory and practice.