Enablers and Barriers to Implementation of Circular Economy Practices in the Built Environment: An Exploratory Study

Construction firms that deliver, renovate, and maintain built environment (BE)-i.e., facilities and infrastructures-rely heavily on the linear take-make-use-dispose economic model that has resulted in environmental degradation and resources depletion. Circular economy (CE) is an alternative economic model envisioned to disrupt the linear mode of operations of most industries. Whereas CE may help BE firms to improve their environmental performance, the specificity of the construction industry makes its implementation quite complex. This exploratory study sets out to identify the most common CE practices in BE and to uncover the enablers and barriers for implementing them in the Pacific Northwest. Twelve CE practices were initially identified from the literature. Then, fifteen industry representatives in the Pacific Northwest were interviewed about their knowledge and direct experience with these practices to identify enablers, barriers as well as the stakeholders that drive the decision to implement these practices on projects. Analysis of the interview findings led to identify seven barriers and enablers and evaluate them against each of the CE practices. Further, project success factors, contractual requirements, and preconstruction were uncovered as the leading enablers while design characteristics, project constraints and poor stakeholder experience are potential barriers. Additionally, the study revealed selective demolition, selecting materials and products, design for prefabrication, built out of waste, design for adaptability and flexibility as the practices with the biggest potential to be implemented in the current state of practice. This study will help construction practitioners better understand the CE practices that can be implemented on BE projects, highlighting the barriers, and enabling factors for implementation.