Review of circularity assessment tools in the built environment

Abstract

Adopting circular economy in the built environment requires a change in the approach of designing, constructing, operationalizing and deconstructing the buildings. The transition from a conventional building approach towards a circular economy in the built environment requires assessment tools that can evaluate environmental performance and the integration of circular economy (CE) principles across all building lifecycle stages. This study presents a comparative evaluation of 16 circularity assessment tools using two key dimensions: lifecycle coverage and circularity based on CE integration. In order to assess circularity, a standardized scoring system between 1 and 5 was developed, aligned with Ellen MacArthur Foundation's ReSOLVE framework. This study indicates that tools such as BAMB and Madaster offer high levels of CE integration, offering features as varied as material passports, lifecycle tracking, and design-for disassembly. Conventional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools like SimaPro and GaBi, while good in modelling the environment, lack dedicated circularity indicators. Tools such as Circulytics and Level(s) show strength in strategic or organizational-level assessment, but do not provide technical detail regarding material recovery or component reuse. This comparative framework provides valuable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to select or adapt circularity tools. In the Indian context, where sustainable urbanization is a national priority, contextualizing and integrating these tools with existing rating systems like GRIHA and LEED India could accelerate the adoption of circular construction practices.