IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v33y2025i3p3858-3878.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Barriers and Strategies in Implementing Design for Disassembly and Adaptability Principles in Singapore: A Pathway to Circular Economy in the Construction Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Hanzhang Zhan
  • Bon‐Gang Hwang
  • Lim Wei Hern Jovan

Abstract

As sustainability becomes crucial in the global construction industry, Design for Disassembly and Adaptability (DfDA) principles are key to advancing a circular economy by reducing waste, conserving resources, and enhancing building adaptability. In Singapore, with its high‐density urban landscape and limited natural resources, the adoption of DfDA principles is especially vital to ensure long‐term environmental and economic resilience. This study investigated barriers to DfDA implementation in Singapore's construction industry, analyzed strategies to address these challenges, and examined differences in perceptions based on professional roles and experience through a literature review, a questionnaire survey, and interviews. Eleven barriers and eight strategies were identified. The top barriers included the lack of practical tools and guidelines, cost and schedule constraints, and negative public perception of reused building components. The most effective strategies included providing financial incentives and awards, developing explicit guidelines and frameworks, and promoting collaborative project delivery methods. Significant differences were observed in perceptions based on respondents' roles and experience. This study advances theoretical understanding by developing a novel systematic framework that integrates barriers and strategies for DfDA implementation and stakeholder dynamics in the construction industry. The findings provide practical guidance for developing targeted measures to promote sustainable building practices. These insights significantly contribute to advancing industry‐wide sustainability initiatives and global sustainable development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanzhang Zhan & Bon‐Gang Hwang & Lim Wei Hern Jovan, 2025. "Barriers and Strategies in Implementing Design for Disassembly and Adaptability Principles in Singapore: A Pathway to Circular Economy in the Construction Industry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 3858-3878, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:3:p:3858-3878
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.3330
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3330
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.3330?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:3:p:3858-3878. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.