Wu, D.; Wang, T.; Chan, P. and Gruis, V. (2026) Integration of circular economy principles into Dutch social housing procurement: Technological, organizational and environmental practices, challenges and development potentials. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, pp. 1-21. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose – The procurement process is to be transformed to facilitate circular transition in the built environment by integrating the supply and demand sides' actors and resources. Compared with public bodies, Dutch social housing organizations exhibit variations in circular transition motivations and in how they govern procurement decisions. However, relevant empirical knowledge to integrate circular principles into the procurement process in the Dutch social housing sector is lacking. This research aims to investigate the integration of circular principles into the procurement process and the associated challenges in the Dutch social housing sector, and to provide development potentials based on the empirical findings. Design/methodology/approach – Case studies with seven circular social housing projects in the Netherlands were conducted, including document studies and 18 interviews with housing associations and supply chain actors. An abductive approach with an iterative coding process was used to analyze case study data in Atlas.ti. Findings – Various approaches are currently being adopted to integrate circular economy principles into the procurement of Dutch Social Housing, such as innovative construction and contracting methods, contracting with a consortium and adopting program-based contracts and performance-based requirements. The integration of circular economy principles is challenged by logistics and information uncertainties, a lack of knowledge on circular economy, separation of organizational structures, inefficiency in stakeholder collaboration and a lack of regulatory support in circular procurement transitions. An integrated information system, tailored circular procurement strategies and pertinent regulations and governance mechanisms are essential for the future development of circular procurement. Originality/value – This study contributes to the current literature on circular procurement of private organizations in developed economies. It emphasizes that circular procurement should be understood not merely as a technical function but as a systematic approach encompassing technological, organizational, and environmental contexts. It also offers practical recommendations for adopting circular procurement within and beyond the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; circular procurement; social housing; supply chain management; technological-organizational-environmental framework; the built environment |
| Index terms: | interview, construction industry, procurement strategy, Netherlands, contracting method, supply and demand, governance, integration, social housing, abductive approach, motivation, information system, collaboration, procurement process, variation, consortium, housing association, case study, performance-based, circular economy, regulation, program, organizational structure, methodology, built environment, procurement decision |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, market analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, institutional client, political science, research design and methodology, Geography, sociology, procurement strategy, housing and residential development, software systems, business, psychology, performance measurement, organizational analysis, sustainable design, information systems, management, contractual arrangements, partnership management, research methods, contractual condition, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Procurement, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Quality Management, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Contract Administration, Governance, Human Resources, Geographical Context, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Stakeholder Management |
| 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