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Sustainability
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Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices
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Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 July 2027 | Viewed by 6131

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. João Adriano Rossignolo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Interests: low-carbon building materials; circular economy; use of agro-industrial by-products in construction materials
Dr. Gabriela Lyra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Interests: life cycle assessment (LCA); low-carbon building materials; circular economy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry is one of the largest global consumers of raw materials and energy, generating significant environmental impacts and waste. In response, the transition to a circular economy (CE) model is essential for reducing resource depletion, minimizing waste, and promoting sustainable and resilient built environments. This Special Issue aims to explore innovative materials, construction techniques, policy frameworks, and business models that contribute to circularity in the construction sector.

This Special Issue will provide an interdisciplinary platform for discussing the latest advancements, challenges, and practical applications of circular economy principles in construction. We welcome contributions that address the following:

  • The development and integration of circular materials and bio-based composites in construction;
  • Waste valorization strategies and the reuse of demolition materials;
  • Digitalization and Industry 4.0 approaches for circular construction;
  • Policy, governance, and regulatory frameworks that foster CE adoption;
  • Socio-economic and life cycle assessments of circular construction models.

By bridging technical, economic, and policy perspectives, this Special Issue will supplement the existing literature by highlighting how circular economy strategies contribute to sustainability, resilience, and carbon footprint reduction in construction. We invite researchers and practitioners to submit high-quality original research, case studies, and review papers.

Prof. Dr. João Adriano Rossignolo
Dr. Gabriela Pitolli Lyra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circular economy in construction
  • sustainable building materials
  • waste valorization in construction
  • construction and demolition waste (CDW) management
  • bio-based and recycled materials
  • life cycle assessment (LCA) in construction
  • digitalization and Industry 4.0 in circular construction
  • regenerative and Net-Zero buildings
  • policy and governance for circular construction
  • carbon footprint reduction in the built environment

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

44 pages, 15908 KB  
Article
Mapping Circularity Strategies in Building Sustainability Assessment Methods
by Christina Giarma, Rand Askar, Nika Trubina, Adriana Salles, Patrizia Lombardi, Ferhat Karaca, Ricardo Mateus, Bahar Feizollahbeigi, Aikaterina Karanafti, Sara Torabi Moghadam, Rocío Pineda-Martos, Daniela Santana Tovar, Ruben Paul Borg and Luís Bragança
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2585; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052585 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 722
Abstract
The widespread adoption of circularity principles in the building sector fuels the need for robust and comprehensive evaluation systems, which could benefit from the approaches and indicators employed in widely accepted building sustainability assessment (BSA) methods. Simultaneously, the effective consideration of circular economy [...] Read more.
The widespread adoption of circularity principles in the building sector fuels the need for robust and comprehensive evaluation systems, which could benefit from the approaches and indicators employed in widely accepted building sustainability assessment (BSA) methods. Simultaneously, the effective consideration of circular economy (CE) principles into BSA methods becomes increasingly urgent. An important step towards achieving these targets is the investigation of whether, and to which degree, the existing BSA methods encompass and express circularity principles; this study focuses on this relatively underexplored theme. Specifically, this study investigates the degree of association between five widely used BSA methods and the circularity strategies included in the 10R Framework. The methods examined are BREEAM, DGNB, LEED, Level(s) and SBTool (versions and criteria for new buildings). The examination was conducted at the lowest self-contained and score-attributing level of each method and was undertaken by five expert groups—each assigned one method. A quantitative scale from 0 to 5 was used to assess the strength of the association. The results are analysed in terms of (i) the criteria/thematic areas within each method receiving high/low scores, and (ii) the circularity strategies deduced to be strongly/weakly represented in and across the BSA methods. Common trends and milder differences across these axes are observed. Generally, the associations appear stronger in thematic areas relevant to, among others, resources and lifecycle performance, and weaker regarding parameters linked to user comfort. The R-strategies Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink emerge as more intensely represented in the examined methods. The study’s results indicate areas for further research and potential methodological enhancement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices)
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28 pages, 8142 KB  
Article
Enabling Circular Reuse of Sandwich Panels Through UAV Inspection, Deep Learning, and BIM-Based Material Passports
by Rui Barros Garcia, Ruben Pereira Silva, Tomás Simões Jorge, José Santos, Luiza Assunção, Pedro Oliveira, Ricardo Santos, Micael S. Couceiro and Diogo Ribeiro
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052454 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 558
Abstract
Transitioning toward a circular economy requires not only solutions involving technical component reuse but also mechanisms that reduce risk and increase confidence among market stakeholders. Steel-faced sandwich panels, widely used in façades and roofs, constitute a significant urban material stock, yet their reuse [...] Read more.
Transitioning toward a circular economy requires not only solutions involving technical component reuse but also mechanisms that reduce risk and increase confidence among market stakeholders. Steel-faced sandwich panels, widely used in façades and roofs, constitute a significant urban material stock, yet their reuse is constrained by information asymmetry, liability concerns, and the absence of verifiable condition data. In this study, we develop an integrated end-to-end workflow—combining controlled panel recovery, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) inspection, deep learning-driven damage detection, and Building Information Modeling (BIM)-linked material passports—to enable traceable, evidence-based reuse decisions. Validated through a pilot façade assembly and disassembly process, the methodology successfully quantified 4845.90 cm2 of mechanical damage across 10 panels, with all orthomosaic and detection outputs fully integrated into the digital passport environment. By standardizing component-level condition records, this approach reduces perceived risk and provides the technical assurance necessary to unlock a trusted second-hand marketplace for sandwich panels. Framed within an urban metabolism perspective, the findings demonstrate how digital transparency can bridge the gap between material recovery and market valuation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices)
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20 pages, 2560 KB  
Article
Potential Use of Waste Plastic (HDPE) as a Partial Substitute for Adhesive to Produce Sugarcane Bagasse Medium-Density Particleboards: Technical Feasibility and Environmental Impact Mitigation
by Afonso José Felício Peres Duran, Gabriela Pitolli Lyra, Luiz Eduardo Campos Filho, Gabriel Affonso da Costa Held, João Adriano Rossignolo and Juliano Fiorelli
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010193 - 24 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 792
Abstract
Lignocellulosic residues are increasingly explored as alternatives to wood in particleboard production, fostering sustainability within the circular economy. Beyond these, non-lignocellulosic wastes such as plastics are gaining attention for enhancing panel durability and performance. This study evaluates waste high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a [...] Read more.
Lignocellulosic residues are increasingly explored as alternatives to wood in particleboard production, fostering sustainability within the circular economy. Beyond these, non-lignocellulosic wastes such as plastics are gaining attention for enhancing panel durability and performance. This study evaluates waste high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a partial substitute for adhesive resin in sugarcane bagasse-based medium-density particleboards. The objective was to valorize agricultural and plastic residues while reducing reliance on petroleum-based resins and associated environmental impacts. Panels (750 kg/m3) were produced with two face layers of sugarcane bagasse and a core layer combining bagasse and HDPE, bonded with castor oil-based polyurethane resin at 8% and 12% contents. Physical and mechanical performance was assessed against national and international standards, complemented by natural and accelerated weathering tests. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to benchmark hybrid panels against conventional particleboards. Results showed that incorporating HDPE allows for resin reduction without compromising performance, meeting standard requirements for several applications. The LCA indicated lower environmental burdens in 8 of 10 impact categories for hybrid panels relative to conventional ones, underscoring their potential to reduce fossil resource use and emissions. The findings demonstrate that integrating waste plastics into particleboard production not only improves resource efficiency but also delivers tangible environmental benefits. This approach offers a scalable pathway for advancing sustainable materials, closing waste loops, and supporting circular economy practices in the wood-based panel industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices)
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24 pages, 4153 KB  
Article
Impact of Low CO2 Footprint-Dissolution Treatment of Silica and Potassium-Rich Biomass Ashes on the Compressive Strength of Alkali-Activated Mortars
by Danilo Bordan Istuque, Lourdes Soriano, José Monzó, Maria Victoria Borrachero, Mauro Mitsuuchi Tashima and Jordi Payá
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10359; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210359 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 864
Abstract
Using almond shell biomass ash (ABA) as a potassium alkaline source and rice husk ash (RHA) as a soluble silica source to produce blast furnace slag (BFS)-based alkali-activated mortars offers a sustainable alternative to commercial activators. However, some thermal treatment is often needed [...] Read more.
Using almond shell biomass ash (ABA) as a potassium alkaline source and rice husk ash (RHA) as a soluble silica source to produce blast furnace slag (BFS)-based alkali-activated mortars offers a sustainable alternative to commercial activators. However, some thermal treatment is often needed to enhance ash dissolution, potentially increasing the CO2 footprint. In this study, we evaluated how a low-CO2-footprint thermal treatment for dissolving ABA, as well as RHA combined with ABA, affects the strength performance of binary (ABA/BFS) and ternary (RHA/ABA/BFS) alkali-activated mortars. This thermal treatment involved mixing the biomasses with hot water (85 °C) in a thermally insulated bottle (TIB). The binary alkali-activated mortar, cured for 7 days in a thermal bath at 65 °C, achieved 58.0 MPa in compressive strength, applying 1-h dissolution of ABA in a TIB. Additionally, the previous dissolution of RHA in conjunction with ABA for ternary alkali-activated mortar, cured also for 7 days in a thermal bath at 65 °C, resulted in mortars with a higher compressive strength, achieving 64.7 MPa. With the prior biomass dissolution method, the binary and ternary alkali-activated mortars cured at room temperature (20 °C) showed compressive strengths of 54.7 and 67.0 MPa after 28 curing days, respectively. Moreover, after 135 curing days, these mortars reached a compressive strength of 61.4 and 71.9 MPa, respectively. The BFS-alkali-activated binders with ABA and ABA plus RHA cut CO2 emissions by 86.8% and 85.7% compared to the OPC-based binder, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices)
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19 pages, 2169 KB  
Article
The Dynamics of Concrete Recycling in Circular Construction: A System-Dynamics Approach in Sydney, Australia
by Ze Wang, Michael G. H. Bell, Jyotirmoyee Bhattacharjya and Glenn Geers
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104282 - 8 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2166
Abstract
Concrete demolition waste represents a critical bottleneck in achieving a circular economy for the construction sector. This study develops a system-dynamics model that couples material flows with economic and logistical feedback to quantify how cost structures affect concrete recycling in the Sydney (Australia) [...] Read more.
Concrete demolition waste represents a critical bottleneck in achieving a circular economy for the construction sector. This study develops a system-dynamics model that couples material flows with economic and logistical feedback to quantify how cost structures affect concrete recycling in the Sydney (Australia) metropolitan area. The model is calibrated with (i) official New South Wales 2020–2021 construction-and-demolition waste statistics, (ii) concrete consumption data scaled from state infrastructure reports, and (iii) parameters elicited from structured interviews with recycling contractors and plant operators. Scenario analysis systematically varies recycling-plant fees, landfill levies, and transport costs to trace their nonlinear impacts on three core performance metrics: recycling rate, cumulative landfill mass, and virgin gravel extraction. Results reveal distinct cost tipping points: a 10% rise in landfill-logistics costs or a 25% drop in recycling logistics costs shifts more than 95% of concrete waste into the recycling stream, cutting landfill volumes by up to 47% and reducing virgin aggregate demand by 5%. Conversely, easing landfill costs by 25% reverses these gains, driving landfill dependency above 99% and increasing gravel extraction by 39%. These findings demonstrate that carefully calibrated economic levers can override logistical inefficiencies and accelerate circular construction outcomes. The system-dynamics framework offers policymakers and industry stakeholders a decision-support tool for setting landfill levies, recycling subsidies, and infrastructure investments that jointly minimize waste and conserve natural resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in Construction: Innovations, Challenges, and Sustainable Practices)
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