Circular Economy in the Built Environment: A Systematic Literature Review 2005–2025

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) offers a viable pathway for advancing sustainable development in the built environment (BE) due to its potential to reduce waste, resource extraction, and environmental impacts. This study conducts a systematic literature review (2005–2025) to examine CE research through a unifying analytical perspective across the micro, meso, and macro levels of the BE and their integration with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It applies a sequential two-stage design combining science mapping and critical content analysis. Findings show that existing research in the field remains conceptually fragmented across the three levels. CE-SDG linkages remain generic and rarely operationalised within the BE. Seven cross-level enabling mechanisms including life-cycle analysis, circular design strategies, circular business models, circularity assessment, digital technologies, stakeholders collaboration, and integration with the SDGs, emerge as the connective tissue linking levels together. Building on these findings, the study proposes a conceptual framework that operationalises cross-level linkages to support CE implementation in the BE. The framework offers a diagnostic tool that practitioners and policymakers can use to identify level-specific characteristics, cross-level relationships, enabling mechanisms, and remaining gaps. The study contributes to the existing knowledge by providing an integrative approach and recommendations for future CE research, policy, and implementation in the BE.