Circular Wood Construction in a Sustainable Built Environment: A Thematic Review of Gaps and Emerging Topics

Agnieszka Starzyk, Janusz Marchwiński and Vuk Milošević ()
Additional contact information
Agnieszka Starzyk: Department of Architecture, Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Janusz Marchwiński: Faculty of Architecture, University of Technology and Arts in Applied Sciences, 00-792 Warsaw, Poland
Vuk Milošević: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-25

Abstract: As a renewable and carbon-storing raw material, wood is playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of the construction sector towards a circular economy (CE). However, extant scientific studies have largely analyzed its technical, environmental, and social aspects in isolation from one another. The present article provides a problem-oriented and conceptual narrative overview, integrating these three dimensions from a design perspective. The objective of this study is not to provide a systematic review of the extant literature, but rather to structure existing knowledge by categorizing topics as follows: well-recognized, moderately developed, and niche. This approach enables the identification of gaps and links relevant to architectural practice. A qualitative thematic approach was adopted, underpinned by a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed articles sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. This approach was further enriched by the incorporation of a select array of highly cited sources, serving to substantiate the study’s findings and provide a comprehensive overview of the pertinent literature. The review identified four research areas with high potential but low recognition: digital tracking of the life cycle of wooden elements, upcycling of low-quality wood, development of innovative wood-based materials, and socio-cultural acceptance of CE-based architecture. These subjects are currently marginal in the field of research, despite their significant implications for design strategies, adaptive resource use, and the development of interdisciplinary tools. The article posits the necessity of integrating materials science, digital technologies and architectural theory as a prerequisite for the scalable development of circular wood construction. The proposed classification provides a conceptual framework to support further research and guide innovation in the built environment.

Keywords: engineered wood; sustainable construction; circular economy in architecture; material reuse and recycling; wood-based composites; life cycle assessment; digital material passport; circular design strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7333/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7333/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7333-:d:1723919

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().