Enablers and Policy Framework for Construction Waste Minimization Under Circular Economy: Stakeholder Perspectives

Muhammad Usman Shahid () and Majid Ali
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Muhammad Usman Shahid: Department of Civil Engineering, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad 45750, Pakistan
Majid Ali: Department of Civil Engineering, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad 45750, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-26

Abstract: The expansion of the construction sector in order to meet infrastructure demands is generating millions of tons of solid waste. This waste threatens resource sustainability and increases environmental challenges. Adopting a circular economy (CE) through waste minimization (WM) offers a solution, but policy guidelines are very limited in developing countries, especially in the context of Pakistan. The global body of knowledge lacks a comparative analysis of the influence of the perception of stakeholders when developing such guidelines. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to identify enablers for the development of a policy framework and to provide a comparative analysis of the perception of stakeholders. In this regard, Saunders’s research onion model and purposive sampling methods were used for the selection of research variables and respondents, respectively. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis, including word frequency and cluster analyses using the NVivo 15 software, was performed. The key findings indicated an 80% agreement and a 60% disagreement among consultant–contractor and contractor–regulator relationships, respectively. Overall, financial support (14.6%) and awareness programs (11.2%) at the macro level, the use of BIM (5%), the clarity of specifications (4.1%), the segregation of onsite waste (2%), and the adoption of reuse and recycling practices (2%) at the micro level were found to be major policy measures. This study concludes with practical implications for sustainable development.

Keywords: waste minimization (WM); circular economy (CE); Saunders’s research onion model; thematic analysis; word frequency; cluster analysis; enablers; policy framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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