Stakeholder influence and roles on circular economy adoption in the Sri Lankan construction industry

Abstract

The construction industry is a major consumer of resources and contributor to waste, requiring the implementation of sustainable approaches like the Circular Economy (CE). Effective CE implementation needs the collaborative involvement of multiple stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. This study aims to identify key stakeholder groups in the Sri Lankan construction industry, assess their influence and explore their roles in CE implementation. The study used a mixed-methods approach. The questionnaire survey identified the most influential stakeholder groups, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with two representatives from each of the six key stakeholder groups. The results identified six key stakeholders, namely architects/designers, suppliers/manufacturers, public/statutory authorities, clients/developers, contractors, and cost consultants, as significantly influential (Relative Importance Index > 0.70). Architects/designers exert a strong influence on early-stage CE integration, while contractors and suppliers play a major role in the execution of R principles such as reuse, recycling, and recovery. Further, the study revealed that CE implementation is a shared responsibility across all project stages, identifying the roles of key stakeholders. This study contributes by providing a systematic assessment of stakeholder influence and role-mapping for CE implementation in a developing-country context. The findings also highlight emerging stakeholder responsibilities supporting effective CE adoption.