Measuring Circularity of Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review

The transition to a circular economy in the construction sector is crucial for reducing environmental impacts and resource depletion. However, a lack of harmonized methodologies and standardized indicators for measuring circularity remains a major challenge, hindering informed decision-making in the built environment. This study addresses this gap by systematically reviewing existing circularity assessment frameworks for buildings. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, analyzing 948 records from major databases. The findings reveal gaps in current frameworks, particularly the fragmentation of indicators and an overemphasis on material flows, often neglecting adaptability, repairability, and maintainability. By mapping commonalities between indicator frameworks, data requirements, and aggregation methods, this study contributes to the harmonization of circularity assessment approaches, integrating multi-cycle considerations for buildings and construction products. The results in this research contribute to the development of comprehensive and practical assessment frameworks, facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable and circular built environment.