Transition towards circular construction: mapping barriers and enablers of direct reuse of reclaimed concrete elements

Abstract

Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally and constitutes a major share of construction and demolition waste, resulting in significant environmental impacts. Direct reuse of reclaimed concrete (RC) elements represents a high-value circular strategy, as it reduces raw material extraction, pre-serves embodied energy, and lowers carbon emissions associated with new concrete production. Despite these advantages, the practical implementation of RC reuse remains limited due to multiple interrelated barriers. This paper presents a systematic literature review investigating the barriers and enablers influencing the adoption of direct RC reuse within circular construction. The identified drivers were classified into 6 categories: design and structural; process and execution; regulatory; economic and market; environmental; and industry practice and cultural factors. In total, 27 barriers and 20 enablers were identified and analysed. A barrier-enabler rela-tionship map was developed to examine how specific enabling conditions can address the identified barriers. The results indicate that coordinated improvements in technical approaches, regulatory support, and market mechanisms are required to facilitate the wider implementation of RC reuse. The findings provide insights for industry practitioners and policymakers by highlighting critical factors that influence reuse adoption and sup-porting the development of strategies that promote circular practices in the construction sector.