Cultural and Societal Challenges for Circular Strategies Implementation

With the growing emphasis on sustainability, awareness of the environmental impacts and negative potential inherent in current business systems has increased. The circular economy (CE) represents an innovative approach that transforms the traditional linear economy into a restorative system, focussing on extending the life cycle of materials through continuous circulation. The Circular B project aims to develop an international framework that considers multiple facets of the CE, including material and asset management and the use of components in the built environment throughout the entire life cycle of the value chain. The primary objective of the CE is to eliminate waste and pollution (e.g., carbon reduction) and strengthen the resilience of the value chain. However, the current implementation of circular strategies has not yet been found to be effective, with several challenges that cause adverse impacts. This study focuses on investigating and analyzing these challenges, particularly in the cultural and societal domains, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The scope of the questionnaire was to identify (1) awareness and understanding, (2) cultural attitude, (3) barriers to adoption, (4) incentives and motivations, (5) participation and engagement, and (6) education and training. A questionnaire was distributed to 270 respondents, with anonymous responses collected. The survey included eight questions specifically designed to address cultural and societal challenges. The survey was conducted with participants from various sectors, including academia, local authorities, industry professionals, consultants, and others collected from all over the world, ensuring diverse perspectives. The main weaknesses found based on this survey are related to (1) budget constraints due to high costs of reintegrating in the loop of materials or components due to the complexity of circular processes, (2) applicability on the market remains still limited, (3) the importance of planning and design in the initial phases, (4) the importance of establishing a comprehensive network to enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and (5) inadequate policies. The insights gained from this study will help stakeholders, such as constructors, maintainers, engineers, designers, and consultants, across various organizations in the value chain to develop practical solutions to mitigate these challenges and improve the overall business system.