De Silva, W. P. M.; Jayasena, S.; Thennakoon, P. and Perera, B. A. K. S. (2026) Circular economic strategies for maximising the end-of-life value of modular buildings: A Delphi study. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 15(3), pp. 1366-1390. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose – The construction industry is responsible for over 30% of natural resource extraction and 25% of global waste generation. Modular construction (MC) offers an opportunity to move towards a circular economy (CE), enhancing the value at the end-of-life stage through reuse and disassembly. However, a gap remains, prohibiting the full realisation of this potential. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing a strategic framework that enhances the end-of-life value of MBs by integrating CE principles by investigating key parameters, identifying relevant CE principles and formulating integration strategies to maximise their effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts a qualitative research approach, using two Delphi rounds with experts selected through purposive sampling. The qualitative data were analysed using manual content analysis. Findings – The research identifies six parameters that influence the end-of-life value of MBs and aligns them with suitable CE 9R principles. In total, 41 strategies are provided for integrating these principles with 6 parameters to enhance the end-of-life value of MBs. Originality/value – The study findings present a systematic approach to integrating CE principles to enhance the end-of-life value of MBs. Identifying specific strategies integrating CE principles for each key parameter distinguishes it from previous research, which often lacks this level of focus on end-of-life parameter-specific strategies. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the practical application of CE concepts in MC. Further, it offers practical strategies for enhancing the end-of-life value of MB to promote a sustainable built environment.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 9r principles; circular economy; end-of-life value; modular building |
| Index terms: | natural resource, circular economy, waste generation, modular building, Delphi method, construction industry, purposive sampling, built environment, effectiveness, strategy, content analysis, disassembly, qualitative research, methodology, modular construction, integration |
| Subjects: | performance management, management, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, organizational analysis, research design and methodology, data collection methods, data analysis and analytics, sustainable design, research methods, building construction, environmental impact, operations management, environmental resource management |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Site Management, Organizational Design, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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