van Uden, M F M (2025) Reconfiguration of practices towards a circular economy in the architecture, engineering, and construction sector: Change throughout a persistent system. PhD thesis, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
Abstract
The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions and resource consumption. In response, the Netherlands aims to make the sector 50% circular by 2030 and fully circular by 2050. However, the transition from a linear to a circular economy is complex due to technical, organisational, and cultural barriers. This dissertation explores how interorganisational behaviour and routinised practices within and beyond construction projects influence the realisation of circular ambitions. This research highlights the importance of top-down support, equal partnerships, shared goals, and intrinsically motivated individuals in construction projects. Trust, transparency, flexibility, and a shared team identity further foster the redefinition of traditional roles so as to drive innovation. However, factors such as focus on short-term cost and risk aversion often hinder progress. The dissertation further combines Sustainability Transitions Research (STR) and Social Practice Theory (SPT) into crossover frameworks that capture both systemic change and everyday practices. These are used to analyse (mis)alignments in the system-of-practices around construction projects. It was found that using secondary materials often clashes with notions of quality, safety, and aesthetics. Increasingly, Circular Building Hubs (CBHs) are brought forward as answer to this problem. This research shows that these hubs can be accelerators in the transition, though they are seen as temporary rather than permanent solutions. Ultimately, no single intervention will enable the shift to circularity. Instead, multiple coordinated changes in practices are needed. This dissertation provides tools for researchers and practitioners to navigate this complexity and encourages learning, experimentation, and a systemic approach to support sector-wide transitioning.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Wamelink, J W F; van Bueren, Ellen and Heurkens, E W T M |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; architecture, engineering and construction sector; sustainability transitions; social practice theory; interorganisational behaviour; construction projects; secondary materials |
| Index terms: | dissertation, resource consumption, transparency, identity, aesthetic, circularity, partnership, circular economy, interorganizational, social practice theory, construction sector, complexity, construction project, practitioner, reconfiguration, Netherlands, experiment |
| Subjects: | theoretical framing, factor and component analysis, production management, Geography, sustainable design, environmental resource management, research dissemination and communication, organization, sustainable materials, practitioner, partnership management, sociology, industry analysis, systems engineering, professional development, data collection methods, business |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Geographical Context, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here