Circular business models: Current state and framework to achieve sustainable buildings

Abstract

The construction sector exerts great pressure on natural resources, and its role in the transition to a circular economy (CE) is fundamental. Despite the growing prominence of circular business models (CBMs), based on strategies of slowing and closing resource flows, there is uncertainty with regard to how to implement them in the construction sector. This study analyzed how the construction sector approaches business models (BMs) to achieve sustainable buildings. Through a systematic literature review, 89 articles were analyzed to (1) explore how the sector is implementing circular strategies; and (2) verify how these strategies are distributed in the BMs described in the literature. The review showed that CBMs are concentrated in clusters, with a focus on energy efficiency strategies and the search for more information and understanding of circular actions in the sector. From the results, a model for value creation and a framework were created to facilitate CBM implementation. The model is a roadmap for embedding the process of innovation and value creation in CBMs. The framework relates CBMs to the building life cycle, aiming to introduce circular principles into policies, actions, and value chains. This study contributes to innovation and value creation, associating BMs with the circular principle of closing the cycles of materials and systems in the construction sector.