A new study explores how construction-sector stakeholders perceive the costs and benefits of circular economy practices across different stages of a building’s lifecycle. Drawing on structured survey responses from multiple countries and qualitative evidence from Norway, the research finds that financial uncertainty remains a major barrier to adoption, even when stakeholders often see circular practices as beneficial overall. The findings point to the importance of clearer incentives, better digital tools, and stronger collaboration to make circularity more economically viable in practice.

Key findings

• The study analyzed 125 valid responses, including 87 structured survey responses and 38 qualitative responses describing circular economy implementation cases.
• Stakeholders generally perceived the benefits of circular economy practices to outweigh the costs across most lifecycle stages.
• Demolition was viewed as the most financially beneficial stage, while certification and operation and maintenance were associated with higher cost perceptions.
• Cross-country differences suggest that regulatory maturity and policy context influence how stakeholders assess circular economy costs and benefits.
• The study identifies three important enablers for wider adoption: enhanced digital tools, policy innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Why it matters
The construction industry is economically significant but also highly resource-intensive and waste-generating. This study adds empirical evidence on how financial perceptions and regulatory frameworks shape decisions about circular economy practices across the building lifecycle. By showing where stakeholders see the strongest value and where they remain hesitant, the research offers useful insight for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers working to support a more practical and economically credible transition to circular construction.