Osei-Tutu, S; Ayarkwa, J; Nani, G; Osei-Asibey, D and Abu, I M A (2025) Stakeholders' role towards circular economy implementation: A scientometric review. Construction Innovation, 25(6), pp. 1633-1656. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to identify in literature the role of construction stakeholders in the implementation of circular economy (CE) in the construction industry (CI). This study also sought to identify the status quo and research trend, "hot themes", areas requiring more research and future research direction of stakeholders' role in CE implementation in the CI. Design/methodology/approach A literature search was conducted using the Scopus search engine, augmented by Google Scholar to produce 50 relevant articles for the identification of stakeholders' roles using content analysis. The scientometric study was undertaken using VOSviewer on 42 articles obtained from Scopus search to identify the status quo, "hot themes", knowledge gaps and future research direction of the role of stakeholders in CE implementation. Findings Through content analysis, the identified roles of government as a stakeholder are to develop efficient policy instruments, legislation support and financial investment in research and development activities that will promote the smooth implementation of CE. The role of academia/research is to engage in research aimed at investigating both the short-term behaviour and the durability of recycled materials and products. In addition, the roles of professionals in the consultant/design/procurement team are to design with life cycle assessment and reused materials, design for deconstruction and disassembly, etc. The role of the user/consumer is to ensure knowledge diffusion and awareness exchange that recognize the available opportunities for long-term material usage (including repair, reuse, refurbishment and recycling). The research status quo identified from the scientometric analysis include how stakeholders can come up with innovative ways in demolition that will ensure that more of the materials can be reused. Stakeholders should focus on enacting policies and laws that can promote the use of recycled materials in buildings, etc. Research that focuses on how to engage the various construction stakeholders to come up with specific public policy that will promote CE implementation, identifying the specific roles to be played by stakeholders during policy enactment as well as managing the environment, laws and legislations towards CE implementation. The role of stakeholders in the extension of the life span of projects, the use of strategies to minimize waste generation and standardization of building materials, components and connectors with the purpose of simplifying disassembly are the research gaps and areas for future research studies. Some of the research "hot themes" include "circular business models in the CI", "environmental sustainability policy implementation", "environmental, economic and social sustainability", "policy, laws and legislations on waste management" and "environmental and industrial economics" towards CE implementation. Practical implications The findings from this study serve as a valuable reference for construction stakeholders to assess their specific roles as stakeholders and to identify the status quo and research trend, "hot themes", areas requiring more research and future research directions on stakeholders' roles in CE implementation in the CI. Originality/value Identifying the role of stakeholders for CE implementation is one bold step towards the achievement of CE implementation in the CI.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; circular economy; construction industry; construction professionals; policymaker; roles; stakeholders |
| Index terms: | disassembly, industrial economics, legislation, life cycle assessment, content analysis, strategy, waste management, methodology, policy implementation, research and development, policy instrument, environmental sustainability, public policy, repair, circular economy, recycling, durability, waste generation, building material, academia, built environment, business model, standardization, social sustainability, construction professional, recycled materials, construction industry, implementation |
| Subjects: | research management, communities and social development, financial analysis, maintenance engineering, research methods, sustainable design, health safety and environment, operations management, public policy, contractual arrangements, legal systems, policy studies, waste management, environmental impact, educational institutions, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, management, performance measurement, professional development, building materials, data analysis and analytics, material degradation and durability, business |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Quality Management, Education, Health and Safety, Sustainability, Procurement, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Site Management, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Construction Materials, Information Management, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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