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Circular economy for the built environment: A research framework

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Abstract

The built environment puts major pressure on the natural environment; its role in transitioning to a circular economy (CE) is therefore fundamental. However, current CE research tends to focus either on the macro-scale, such as eco-parks, or the micro-scale, such as manufactured products, with the risk of ignoring the additional impacts and potentials at the meso-scale of individual buildings. This article sets out to unpack the fundamental defining dimensions of a CE and frame them for CE studies for the built environment. A critical literature review forms the basis for identifying and framing such fundamental dimensions. Our contribution highlights the key roles of interdisciplinary research and of both bottom-up and top-down initiatives in facilitating the transition to ‘circular buildings’. The frame for reference has been used to capture current discourse on the sustainability of the built environment and has proved to be a valuable tool to cluster existing initiatives and highlight missing links for interdisciplinary endeavours. The article represents a contribution to the theoretical foundations of CE research in the built environment and a stepping stone to shape future research initiatives.

Description

Keywords

33 Built Environment and Design, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Journal Title

Journal of Cleaner Production

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0959-6526

Volume Title

143

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
Isaac Newton Trust (1321(c))
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N509024/1)
The authors would like to thank and acknowledge the Isaac Newton Trust (Research Grant RG74916) for funding this research as well as the valuable inputs received by the anonymous reviewers.