Analysis and influence mapping of socio-technical challenges for developing decarbonization and circular economy practices in the construction and building industry

The construction and building industry (CBI) is considered one of the major carbon emission contributors to the environment and faces various social and technical challenges in implementing decarbonized and circular economy (DCE) practices. Resource optimization can be achieved using the CBI product circularity and carbon offset mechanisms for greater business sustainability. In past studies, DCE practices have been loosely considered for improving the sustainability performance of emerging economies' CBI. To fill this gap, this study uniquely focuses on CBI practices on DCE in consideration of socio-technical system (STS) availability because STS plays a vital role in adopting DCE practices. The proposed research framework is based on STS theory to measure the inter-influence of socio-technical challenges in achieving decarbonized and circular CBI. The STS-based framework consists of six dimensions namely: goals of circular construction (GCC), people barriers (PB), cultural barriers (CB), infrastructural barriers (IB), technological barriers (TB), and construction process and procedural barriers (CPB). The main STS dimensions are further divided into 26 sub-dimensions to assess interinfluencing mapping. The proposed framework is analyzed using integrated grey information uncertainty theory with decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and interpretive structural modelling (ISM), i.e., grey-DISM. The grey-DISM method measures the driving power and dependence of the interdependencies of the decarbonized circularity barriers of the Indian CBI. Fifteen industry experts participated in the data survey, and their participation consistency was more than 95%. Barriers IB and CPB were found to be the major and minor challenges in implementing DCE in CBI. The findings of this research reported that lack of decarbonized and CE-based infrastructure hinders the adoption of DCE practices. This paper's results also highlight the construction design dependency on infrastructure and machinery and low DCE practice perceptions for improving circularity in CBI. The entire decision model is divided into three levels of hierarchical mapping, which helps construction practitioners and policymakers develop strategic planning for improving DCE practices in CBI. The paper also presented managerial and policy implications for CBI practitioners and policymakers.