Building construction accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production. Applying circular economy (CE) principles in the building construction industry would considerably reduce these values. However, uptake by the industry is relatively slow, which is largely attributed to sectoral barriers, including limitations in knowledge and experience. This review paper aims to assess and contribute to diminishing these obstacles by offering a comprehensive review of circular material usage principles and strategies within the construction sector. Opportunities and facilitators of change are also presented, including innovations and emerging technologies in recycling, digitization, robotic systems, novel materials, and processing. Finally, four case studies demonstrate the application of circular theory via a novel block system, recycled aggregate, modular kitchen reuse, and an energy efficiency retrofit. The conclusions show that future efforts should prioritize the development of strong regulatory frameworks, awareness initiatives, and international cooperation. In this regard, the integration of technological advancements, such as AI, robotics, and blockchain, is essential for optimizing waste management efficiency. Furthermore, education on circular practices plays a critical role. Through global collaboration, standardizing circular construction approaches can promote a more sustainable and resilient building construction industry.

Since the definition and publication of the 2030 Agenda in 2015, addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been pivotal in guiding carbon neutrality and sustainable solutions in urban development. Despite the passage of nine years, tangible successes in achieving the SDGs have been limited, underscoring the critical need for innovative approaches to fostering energy performance and reducing carbon emissions. This study advocates for adopting circular economy principles as a strategic pathway to mitigate environmental, social, and economic challenges and promote sustainable, net-zero-energy solutions. Through a systematic literature review spanning multiple databases, this research underscores the synergy between urban circular economies (UCEs) and the SDGs, with a particular focus on sustainable solutions, resource use circularity in construction, and renewable energy integration. By setting stringent eligibility criteria, this review captures a wide array of perspectives, providing a comprehensive analysis that bridges the gap between urban sustainability, renewable energy adoption, and climate change mitigation efforts. The analysis of 23 selected papers reveals a substantial linkage between UCE practices and the advancement of SDGs, highlighting the pivotal roles of responsible consumption, resource efficiency, and regenerative practices in achieving co-benefits through policy and regulatory frameworks towards carbon neutrality. The findings recommend implementing a holistic approach that integrates urban sustainability with circular economy principles, offering a structured insight into the potential of UCEs in fostering a sustainable transition in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This research explores sustainable construction practices focusing on material reuse, specifically reclaimed structural steel and slag. In general, the building stock is not designed for deconstruction, and material recovery for reuse at the end of life of buildings is complex and challenging. The study evaluates the benefits of content reuse through a thorough analysis of three case studies—BedZED eco-friendly housing, Angus Technopôle building, and the use of steel slag aggregate in road construction. It highlights the value of reclaimed structural steel and by-products like steel slag in waste reduction, energy conservation, and resource preservation. The BedZED case study showcases recycled steel’s cost-effectiveness and economic viability in construction, while the Angus Technopôle building exemplifies the adaptive reuse of an old steel frame building. Additionally, the third case study showcases the benefits of using Electric Arc Furnace C slag in asphalt-wearing courses, highlighting the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. The versatility of reclaimed structural steel and slag is evident in integrating material reuse in building construction and road infrastructure. These case studies illustrate the potential for reusing steel and its by-products in various construction contexts, from eco-friendly housing to road development. Therefore, the study aims to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of sustainable practices within the construction industry by showcasing the successful incorporation of reclaimed steel and slag in these projects. Considering the significant contributions of building construction to global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production, the study advocates for adopting circular economy (CE) principles within the construction industry. Finally, the analysis of case studies underscores the advantages of reclaimed structural steel and the valorisation of steel slag through the lens of CE and their contribution to sustainable development.

Due to its intricate production processes, complex supply chains, and industry-specific characteristics, the construction industry faces unique challenges in adopting circular economy (CE) principles that promote resource equity. To address this issue, this study aims to delve into identifying stakeholders’ opinions and perceptions regarding key CE strategies across different stages of the building life cycle (BLC). Both European and non-European stakeholders within the “CircularB” COST Action network and beyond participated in this research. Three methods were employed to assess stakeholders’ opinions: an online survey, a structured survey with a semi-guided workshop, and creative thinking round table discussions. Natural language processing (NLP), specifically topic modelling and sentiment analysis, was used to analyse the data collected from the online survey, which gathered text-based opinions from 209 participants on the cost-benefit aspects of circularity strategies. The structured survey, which collected data from 43 workshop participants, evaluated the perceived importance of CE strategies across various BLC phases and assessed the adoption of selected CE strategies in current or past projects. Finally, the Six Thinking Hats^® activity, employed in the round table discussions, generated ideas from 25 professionals regarding the broader implementation challenges and opportunities of CE in construction. The research findings highlight the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice by fostering active industry stakeholder involvement in the transition to a CE model. The analyses of the collected stakeholder opinions through the three activities contribute to proactive and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing resource equity in the construction sector and promoting just and inclusive resource use. In summary, this research offers a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders’ opinions on CE strategies and provides guidance for the development of targeted policies and strategies to accelerate the integration of CE principles in the construction industry.

This chapter offers a comprehensive analysis of the intersection between digitalisation and the circular economy (CE) within the construction sector. It underscores the transformative potential of integrating digital tools to advance circularity objectives across managerial, environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The chapter discusses fourteen digital tools and technologies, which play a pivotal role in CE by streamlining data integration and visualisation, enhancing the accuracy of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) assessments, and supporting the adoption of CE strategies. Moreover, it explores how digital tools can facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, fostering knowledge sharing and effective communication throughout the project lifecycle. Nevertheless, challenges such as the absence of standardised methods, data interoperability issues, and the need for well-defined system boundaries remain. The chapter highlights the critical role of digitalisation in advancing the transition towards CE in the construction sector, emphasising the necessity of overcoming technical and systemic obstacles to fully harness the potential of digital tools in implementing CE. This transition aligns with the broader ambitions of the European Green Deal and the EU Digital Strategy, aiming to create a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient construction industry. By addressing these challenges and leveraging digitalisation, the construction sector can make a significant contribution to a sustainable and circular economy, ultimately benefiting both the environment and society.

Sustainability assessment methods have gained the attention between urban planners and policymakers since they promote a comprehensive view of the cities. Intelligent solutions, enabled by advances in information technologies, can accelerate progress in achieving sustainability goals. In this context, City Information Modelling (CIM) emerges as a tool to facilitate urban sustainability assessment implementation. Accordingly, the main question aimed to address in this article is whether conventional sustainability assessment tools can be adapted to the CIM framework. In this regard, this study extracts the most consensual list of indicators from four sustainability assessment methods: BREEAM-C, LEED-ND, SNTool, and SBTool^PT Urban, to identify a clear set of key sustainability priorities. The selected sustainability assessment methods are pioneering and often used for performance assessment at the urban scale. Furthermore, the indicators extracted from the assessment methods are measurable and can present accurate results. The study analyses the potential of the selected indicators to be calculated in CIM. The final product of the article is identifying the indicators that are adaptable to be used in the CIM approach.