Highly effective circular economic practices for the life cycle of a construction project

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) concept has emerged as an important aspect of sustainable development in the construction industry. Inadequate knowledge and understanding on properly integrating CE practices into the construction life cycle is a significant obstacle. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the most effective CE practices at each stage of a construction project's life cycle. A literature review was conducted to comprehend the theoretical framework of the CE concept and its application in the construction industry. Adhering to a quantitative approach, a google questionnaire was distributed among experts in the field to identify the most effective CE practices for the Sri Lankan construction industry. The study's population included 70 industry experts, and a mandatory 50% response rate was achieved. In the group of construction industry experts, subgroup of experts with knowledge of sustainable construction practices was chosen using the cluster sampling method to achieve reliability of the data. According to the study's findings, the most effective CE practices for the various stages of a construction project's life cycle included minimising waste generation, promoting the use of sustainable materials, implementing prefabrication techniques, and developing a circular supply chain. The findings of the study offer insights into CE practices that can be implemented in the Sri Lankan construction industry to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of a construction project. The study adds to the body of knowledge on CE practices in the construction industry and serves as a foundation for future research on the subject.