Challenges to Circular Economy Adoption: South African Built Environment Professionals’ Perspective

Abstract

The linear approach which follows the principles of take-make-dispose’ still dominates the construction sector. The relative significant negative implications of this approach on the environment requires a paradigm shift. Circular economy (CE) has been regarded as an approach that could lead to environmentally sustainable development if adopted in the industry. However, there have been concerns in some quarters as regards the challenges to the adoption of CE approach. Hence, this study evaluates the challenges to circular economy adoption in the South African (SA) construction industry. A survey method was selected. Ninety (90) of the one hundred and thirty-five (135) questionnaires that were sent to construction industry professionals in Guateng Province, South Africa, were returned and deemed appropriate for study. One-sample t-tests, Kruskal–Wallis, standard deviation, percentage, and mean item scores were used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal the significant challenges to the adoption of CE in SA construction industry which are lack of financial incentives, lack of knowledge, low virgin material costs, and lack of design expertise amongst others. This finding could inform construction stakeholders in the country on the present challenges to the adoption of CE and these challenges identified must encourage stakeholders to take significant steps towards addressing the them such that the SA construction industry benefit from this all-important approach.