A Framework of Indicators to Measure Project Circularity in Construction Circular Economy

The construction circular economy (CE) literature lacks a holistic framework for systematic assessment of project ‘circularity’, thereby impeding industry restructuring and full transition to CE. The proposed ‘project life-cycle assessment circularity indicators and themes’ (PLACIT) framework supports thematic circularity ratings in construction projects using 12 circularity indicators (CIs), representing high-level requirements of CE, grouped into five themes relevant to project life-cycle stages. This helps identify areas of good practice and those requiring circularity improvements. A systematic literature review, structured in line with PLACIT, revealed an increasing association between CE and ‘constructability’ but varying engagement with CIs. The predominant engagement with indicators within the industry’s comfort zone indicates supply-push practices focusing on aspirational CE design solutions and CE management, missing opportunities from engaging with more demand-pull indicators – for example, reduced material inputs – and embedding circular materials in design practices. Full transition to CE will require engaging with a wide range of indicators throughout the whole project life cycle in a more complex network. Moreover, PLACIT has potentials to set clear boundaries between ‘sustainability’ and CE concepts, currently ill defined in the literature. Future research (Association for Project Management supported) will seek to validate PLACIT using expert feedback and use circularity ratings to support decision making in construction.