Short answer

Designers should proactively integrate strategies like renewable energy and durable materials early in the design process and collaborate closely with owners to champion circular economy principles.

Field
Sustainability
Source
Applied Sciences (2025)
Method
Mixed-methods research
Sample
10 participants
Evidence
Strong effect

Implementing circular economy principles in building projects is most effective when focusing on strategies like renewable energy, durable design, and prefabrication, particularly during the initiation, planning, and design phases, with owners and designers as key influencers. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Applied Sciences. Using Mixed-methods research with 10 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should proactively integrate strategies like renewable energy and durable materials early in the design process and collaborate closely with owners to champion circular economy principles.

Study
SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Circular Economy in Buildings: Prioritizing Feasible Strategies and Key Stakeholders for Adoption

Implementing circular economy principles in building projects is most effective when focusing on strategies like renewable energy, durable design, and prefabrication, particularly during the initiation, planning, and design phases, with owners and designers as key influencers.

Applied Sciences · 2025

01

Key Findings

  • 01Most feasible circular economy strategies include renewable energy use, design for durability and longevity, prefabrication, and offsite construction.
  • 02Storage, industrial, and business (office) buildings are the most suitable for circular economy application.
  • 03Initiation and planning, along with the design stages, are critical for successful circular economy adoption.
  • 04Building owners and designers are the primary stakeholders influencing circular economy implementation.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers should proactively integrate strategies like renewable energy and durable materials early in the design process and collaborate closely with owners to champion circular economy principles.

How to apply

When initiating a new building project, conduct a feasibility study focusing on renewable energy, material durability, and prefabrication options, and ensure close collaboration with the client and design team to embed circular economy principles from the earliest stages.

Project actions

  • 01When researching sustainable design, consider how different building types might influence the adoption of circular economy strategies.
  • 02Investigate the specific roles and influences of various stakeholders, such as clients, architects, and contractors, in driving sustainable practices.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo analyze the feasibility and significance of circular economy strategies in building construction, identify influential stakeholders, and determine the optimal lifecycle stages for adoption.
MethodMixed-methods research
ProcedureA pre-interview questionnaire was administered, followed by semi-structured interviews with 10 sustainability experts to assess the importance and adoption potential of 15 circular economy strategies, evaluate feasibility across different building types and lifecycle stages, and analyze stakeholder influence.
Sample10 participants
ContextBuilding construction sector

Variables

IV["Circular economy strategies (e.g., renewable energy, design for durability, prefabrication)","Building types (storage, industrial, commercial, residential, business, healthcare)","Building lifecycle stages (initiation, design, procurement, construction, operation, end-of-life)","Stakeholder influence"]
DV["Feasibility of strategy adoption","Significance of strategy adoption","Potential for adoption"]
CV["Expert knowledge of sustainability and construction","Geographic context (implied, but not explicitly stated as controlled)"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Utilizes a mixed-methods approach combining questionnaires and interviews for comprehensive data.
  • +Focuses on practical feasibility and stakeholder influence, offering actionable insights for design practice.

Limitations

The findings are based on a small group of experts, so the results might not apply to all regions or project scales. Practical implementation challenges not captured by expert opinion could also affect real-world adoption.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliance on expert interviews provides qualitative depth but may be subject to individual biases. Triangulating findings with quantitative data on actual project implementations would enhance reliability and validity.

Think critically

To what extent do the identified 'most feasible' circular economy strategies align with the actual economic constraints and regulatory environments faced by different construction sectors and regions?

05

Design Principles

"Early-stage integration of high-feasibility circular economy strategies, driven by key stakeholders, maximizes adoption success and environmental benefits in building projects."

This research highlights that a targeted approach to circular economy adoption in the built environment yields better results. By concentrating on high-feasibility strategies and engaging influential stakeholders early in the project lifecycle, design teams can significantly reduce waste and resource consumption, leading to more sustainable and cost-effective buildings.

06

What This Means for Your Design

To make buildings more sustainable, focus on using renewable energy, making them last longer, and building parts off-site. This works best for warehouses, factories, and offices, and it's most important to plan this during the early design stages, with the building owner and designer leading the way.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Cite this research when discussing the selection of sustainable materials or construction methods for your design project.
  • 2.Use the findings to justify prioritizing early-stage design decisions that incorporate circular economy principles.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study by AlJaber et al. (2025) provides valuable insights into the practical application of circular economy principles within the building sector. Their research identifies renewable energy, design for durability, and prefabrication as highly feasible strategies, particularly for industrial, storage, and business buildings. Crucially, the study emphasizes the significance of the initiation, planning, and design phases for successful adoption, highlighting owners and designers as key influencers. These findings suggest that a focused approach on these elements during the early stages of a design project can significantly enhance the environmental performance and resource efficiency of new constructions.

09

Source

Applied Sciences

Exploring Circular Economy Strategies in Buildings: Evaluating Feasibility, Stakeholders Influence, and the Role of the Building Lifecycle in Effective Adoption

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about circular economy in buildings: prioritizing feasible strategies and key stakeholders for adoption?
Designers should proactively integrate strategies like renewable energy and durable materials early in the design process and collaborate closely with owners to champion circular economy principles. Evidence: Applied Sciences (2025).
Why does "Circular Economy in Buildings: Prioritizing Feasible Strategies and Key Stakeholders for Adoption" matter for design?
This research highlights that a targeted approach to circular economy adoption in the built environment yields better results. By concentrating on high-feasibility strategies and engaging influential stakeholders early in the project lifecycle, design teams can significantly reduce waste and resource consumption, leading to more sustainable and cost-effective buildings.
How can designers apply this research?
Designers should proactively integrate strategies like renewable energy and durable materials early in the design process and collaborate closely with owners to champion circular economy principles.
What were the main findings?
Most feasible circular economy strategies include renewable energy use, design for durability and longevity, prefabrication, and offsite construction.. Storage, industrial, and business (office) buildings are the most suitable for circular economy application.. Initiation and planning, along with the design stages, are critical for successful circular economy adoption.. Building owners and designers are the primary stakeholders influencing circular economy implementation.
What research method was used?
Mixed-methods research with 10 participants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Applied Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When initiating a new building project, conduct a feasibility study focusing on renewable energy, material durability, and prefabrication options, and ensure close collaboration with the client and design team to embed circular economy principles from the earliest stages.
What are the limitations?
The study's findings are based on expert opinions and may not fully represent the practical challenges or diverse perspectives of all stakeholders involved in construction projects.