Barriers to the Adoption of the Circular Economy in Zimbabwe’s Construction Industry to Reduce Environmental Degradation

Panashe Daswa, Tafadzwa Kudzai Dzimiri and Panashe Heather Mashonganyika
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Panashe Daswa: Department of Quantity Surveying, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe
Tafadzwa Kudzai Dzimiri: Department of Quantity Surveying, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe
Panashe Heather Mashonganyika: Department of Quantity Surveying, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 2025, vol. 12, issue 3, 1003-1012

Abstract: The construction sector significantly contributes to global resource consumption, climate change, and waste generation. The circular economy (CE) concept provides a potential solution to these problems. However, several barriers hinder CE adoption in the Zimbabwean construction industry from mitigating environmental degradation. This study sought to evaluate the barriers to the adoption of the circular Economy in the Zimbabwean construction industry to mitigate environmental degradation. Adopting a pragmatic philosophy, the study employed an online questionnaire survey of construction industry professionals, achieving a 64% response rate. The validity of the survey instrument was established through pilot testing. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data, calculate the severity index, and mean scores of the identified barriers. The study concluded that the primary barriers impeding circular economy adoption are high upfront costs, perception of quality and durability of recycled materials, inadequate CE infrastructure, limited expertise, and inadequate support from the government. These findings provide insights for policy makers and key stakeholders, intending to provide actionable insights for promoting a more sustainable and circular construction sector, suggesting the establishment of financial mechanisms such as tax breaks, green bonds, and subsidies to try to mitigate investment costs associated with the adoption of CE.

Date: 2025
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