The growing disparities between the demand and finite resources within the construction section, contribute to market volatility and environmental degradation. The linear business is currently being predominantly employed, which escalates the construction and demolition waste. Unsustainable practices come into play with the take, make, dispose method and pressure the existing resources. In contrast, circular business models advocate for a closed-loop approach, and newer business opportunities with a new and evolving stream of market. The paper investigates the application of circular economy Business model, which can act as a mould for the construction industry. A systematic study of the aspects of CE, which are regulatory and economic difficulties, barriers, innovations, impact on the environment and society, is carried out. The research examines business models for reuse and recycling, and the current demolition waste management. Established data is studied to understand the trends, and variables in the business models. According to this study, despite the economic and environmental benefits of circular business models, there are barriers to implementing them due to factors such as high cost, undeveloped markets, and regulatory restrictions.

Clothing is one of the basic needs of mankind. The textile industry produces the large amounts of fabric waste threatening the environment and contributes to a significant percentage of non-biodegradable waste. The massive amounts of textile waste dumped in landfills have led to growing environmental issues, which have forced the textile and fashion industry to adopt and practice sustainable waste management and disposal solutions. Recent research has shown that varieties of textile wastes, including pre- and post-consumer, may be treated and used successfully in building operations. This research paper aims to investigate the possibilities of using industrial textile waste and agricultural waste—specifically, textile residues of cotton fabric and cow dung that can be converted into environment friendly building materials. This research was conducted in two phases. The first phase included developing a mix using fabric waste to employ 3D printing technology. The material mix achieved in the first phase of several experiments was 3D printable. However, it was high density material and was unsuitable for light weight construction. The second phase involved to achieve a mix for lightweight blocks by replacing red soil with cow dung. The second phase achieved promising results to achieve lightweight blocks using fabric and cow dung. The findings of this study will help formulate experimentation techniques and methods to develop novel composite as well as sustainable material which could be adopted in the building construction.

With increasing water scarcity and accelerating urbanization in India, embedding circular water practices within the construction sector has become a critical imperative. This study undertakes a comprehensive evaluation of how Indian policies, standards, regulations, and green certifications address principles of water reuse and circularity across the building lifecycle. Using a structured assessment framework centred on eight key Construction Water Principles (CWPs) —such as water demand reduction, greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and lifecycle-based water planning—the research assesses each document based on three parameters: Presence (whether a principle is acknowledged), Strength (the technical clarity and detail), and Enforceability (the existence of legal and institutional mechanisms). These parameters are scored on a standardized scale to allow comparative analysis. The findings indicate that while several national frameworks exhibit strong recognition and moderate technical guidance, there is a consistent shortfall in legal enforceability and accountability. Critical gaps persist in areas such as dual plumbing mandates, construction-phase reuse, and integrated infrastructure planning. The study demonstrates that policies often remain symbolic in nature, with limited translation into implementable actions. To address these issues, the research proposes a replicable and scalable evaluation model that can help policymakers, regulatory bodies, and practitioners diagnose gaps and align regulatory instruments with circular water goals. Ultimately, the framework aims to shift focus from policy recognition to practical execution, advancing water sustainability in India’s construction ecosystem.

Purpose: Adaptive reuse has been recognized as one of the key drivers of both urban regeneration and resource conservation, advancing circular economy goals and promoting long-term sustainability. However, limited research has systematically compared how adaptive reuse policy frameworks operate across distinct governance and cultural contexts. Study: This study examines how governance systems, policy landscapes and market-circularity conditions shape adaptive reuse in the UK, China and India. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study compares the governance and policy frameworks shaping adaptive reuse in the UK, China and India, which represent contrasting governance and planning structures: the UK’s mature and decentralized planning system, China’s centralized and directive governance model, and India’s emerging multi-tier governance system. It draws on document analyses of national and local policy materials, combined with visual mapping across three analytical dimensions: governance systems, policy landscapes and market circularity contexts. Findings: The findings show that adaptive reuse outcomes are shaped by different governance logics: negotiated and cross-sectoral in the UK, vertically hierarchical in China, and hybrid and fragmented in India. In the UK, stronger coordination and market-led circularity conditions support adaptive reuse, but implementation is often slowed by procedural complexity. China’s governance structure enables policy coherence and rapid mobilization, but weak horizontal integration constrains adaptive capacity. In India, fragmented multi-level governance and uneven institutional capacity result in inconsistent and scheme-specific delivery. Originality/Value: This study contributes to adaptive reuse and circular economy debates by showing how circularity is mediated within different governance systems, providing a cross-scalar comparison of policy intent and implementation, and highlighting context-sensitive opportunities for mutual learning across different stages of policy development. Research Limitations/Implications: The study is limited to qualitative document analysis of the UK, China and India. Future research could extend the framework through project-level case studies, additional national contexts or longitudinal analysis. Practical Implications: The findings identify context-sensitive opportunities to strengthen institutional coordination, policy integration and circular value recovery, rather than transferring governance models wholesale.

The Net Zero debate is getting more contested as 25% of the UK emissions are directly attributable to the built environment, and 80% of it is expected to come from the existing building stock. Hence, decarbonising the existing building stock is significant, as the domestic housing sector dominates. There is a strong connection between the UK government policies and the progression of housing retrofit. However, limited studies have reviewed this interdependency. The Stern Review validated the importance of early action on climate change two decades ago. Ever since the UK adopted a strong climate change agenda when developing policies. This study aimed to analyse the housing retrofit policy actions over the last two decades and their influence on improving the performance of the housing stock. The study is limited to analysing policy actions relevant to England, which maintains the largest residential housing stock in the UK, with 26 million homes compared with Scotland’s 2.5 million, Wales’s 1.5 million and Northern Ireland’s 0.8 million, while keeping the narrative in the UK context. The detailed policy review, along with political party manifesto analysis, was undertaken as the main data collection strategy. The data was analysed chronologically to explain the patterns and underline narratives. Findings reveal that the existing retrofit policies are not always in favour of the broader sustainability requirements of the country. Governments have changed their direction quite often and focused on short-term priorities for long-term gains. There is a critical need for robust, consistent and transparent policies (interconnected with other policies) as a long-term strategy for achieving sustainable goals.