Circular Economy in the building industry European policy and local practices

As one of the biggest consumers of natural resources, the building industry is a central target for EU and national Circular Economy (CE) policies. This qualitative case study uses a practice theory approach to investigate how firms in the building industry in Luxembourg and Gothenburg, Sweden, understand CE and develop circular practices. The main findings indicate that the industry is in the early stages of developing CE practices. Most companies are in an orientation process and define the meaning and content of the Circular Economy. The definition and scope of what is included differ in the two case regions and show a clear link to prior policies. We do not find industry-wide practices in firm activities. We find promising developments in individual firms or supply chains, including purchasing for lower waste, CE materials and design using non-virgin materials and using digital tools to increase transparency. The main hindrances, according to interviewees, are the lack of cooperation between actors and guidance from policymakers. They further claim that fragmentation and lack of transparency are barriers to circular practices in the industry.