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The uptake of reprocessed construction materials (RCMs) derived from demolition waste (DW) is limited, which questions the long-term sustainability of DW reverse logistics (RL). To address this gap, the current study focused on identifying informational and structural interventions to promote the uptake of RCMs among Australian construction professionals (CPs).

Following a qualitative research approach with thirty-one semi-structured interviews, the study explored potential interventions that can drive broader RCM usage. The study's strength lies in the in-depth qualitative insights gathered through extensive interviews with CPs experienced in using RCMs.

Sixteen informational and structural interventions to promote the uptake of RCMs were identified and mapped against the industry levels at which they should be implemented. RCM suppliers should focus on improving material quality, supply and marketing while minimising material costs. Governments should encourage using RCMs through incentivisation, supportive legislation and approval processes. The significance of awareness building and research was also recognised, which requires the collective efforts of suppliers, governmental and non-governmental bodies and educational institutes.

Despite the talk around sustainable consumption, the actual walk towards this is limited from a construction perspective, as seen through the low uptake of RCMs. This study attempts to bridge this mismatch by outlining informational and structural interventions that would drive CPs to walk the talk and use RCMs for construction applications. While most studies on DW RL have focused on improving waste recovery processes, this study takes a less-trodden path and explores the potential for developing markets for RCMs.

Despite the positive impacts of the construction sector on enhancing economic growth and ensuring societal well-being, its negative impacts on the environment from unsustainable resource consumption levels, emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and waste generation is monumental. Circular economy (CE) concept is identified globally as an avenue to address problems regarding adverse impacts of construction on the environment. This paper presents the principles of CE as an avenue for enhancing environmental sustainability during the pre-construction stage within Sri Lankan construction projects.

This research was approached through a qualitative research method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts. The number of experts were limited due to lack of experts with knowledge on the subject area in Sri Lanka. Data were analysed using content analysis.

Findings revealed a range of activities under each R principle of CE, that is, reduce, reuse, recycle, redesign, reclassification and renewability that could be implemented during the pre-construction stage, thereby providing a guide for construction professionals in implementing CE at the pre-construction stage. The need to expand knowledge on CE concepts within the Sri Lankan construction sector was recognized.

This study provides a qualitative in-depth perspective on how 6R principles of CE could be integrated to a construction project during the pre-construction stage. By adopting the proposed activities under CE principles, construction professionals can enhance the environmental sustainability of construction projects.

Timber waste from construction is downcycled into non-structural products, incinerated for energy generation or disposed of in landfills. Existing literature highlights that the use of reprocessed timber for structural purposes is limited. Therefore, this study aims to focus on identifying factors limiting reprocessed structural timber (RST) uptake amongst construction professionals in Australia.

Current literature shows that the use of reprocessed materials (RMs) depends on user-specific personal factors and broader contextual factors. Therefore, data collection and analysis were based on the attitude-behaviour-context (ABC) theory, which affirms this relationship between personal and contextual factors in determining pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). A qualitative research approach was adopted, considering limitations with industry expertise and the need for developing an in-depth understanding of limiting factors. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted amongst construction professionals experienced in using reprocessed materials, while the thematic analysis technique was used to analyse interview findings.

Personal factors that limit the uptake of RST include negative cost and quality perceptions, risk appetite, the tendency to maintain the status-quo, limited decision-making capability and lack of skills and expertise, while contextual factors include higher prices, poor and uncertain quality, limitations with information availability, under-developed supply and drawbacks in the regulatory environment.

The current study is amongst the first to explore the uptake of reprocessed timber for structural uses in Australia. The findings can be utilised to create a stronger demand for RST by directly addressing personal and contextual factors that constrain construction professionals from using RST.

Many studies have focused on embodied energy (EE) and operational energy (OE), but a shortage of studies on decision making, which involves several decision makers whose decisions can affect the energy performance of buildings, is evident. From the stages of the project life cycle, the design stage is identified as the ideal stage for integrating energy efficiency into buildings. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to revisit the role of professionals in designing energy-conscious buildings with low EE and OE.

This study administered a qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews only with 12 experts, due to the lack of expertise in the subject matter. The data were analyzed using manual content analysis.

The outcomes revealed the necessity to revisit the role of construction professionals in terms of adopting energy-efficient building design concepts from the project outset. The roles of the key professional groups (i.e. architects, structural engineers, services engineers and quantity surveyors) were identified through this research. Common issues in designing energy-efficient buildings and the means of addressing such problems were outlined.

This study contributes to the knowledge by revisiting the roles of construction professionals and proposing how they could leverage their strengths to play the important role and contribute collectively to design buildings with both low OE and EE.

The development of circular construction supply chains (CCSCs) is impeded by various barriers, but the current literature overlooks the interrelationships among these barriers and the varying nature of associated countermeasures with the growth of circular economy (CE). This paper aims to develop new perspectives about the transition to CCSCs through the lens of supply-push (SP)/demand-pull (DP) strategies and related underpinning theories.

A systematic literature review including 136 journal articles was undertaken to identify barriers to CCSCs and associated countermeasures that are analysed for their relevance to SP/DP. The interplay between SP/DP approaches was discussed using the “technology acceptance” and “innovation chain” models.

(1) Thirty-five barriers were identified and organised into nine main barrier factors; (2) the predominant factors are knowledge and awareness, policy and regulations, technological capabilities, and incentives; (3) CCSCs transition is SP-configured primarily driven by actors above the project network; (4) “push” measures are devised to gradually create a “pull” environment and can be revoked when demand for circularity is created, suggesting a new “push-to-pull” perspective of CCSCs; and (5) a complex adaptative system is witnessed in relationships between barriers and countermeasures, and interactions among actors at all levels.

The findings offer practitioners countermeasures to barriers encountered in CE initiatives. It also informs policymakers of adjusting policies to accommodate the SP-DP movement in steering the circular transition.

This study uses theoretical models to interpret the dynamics in CCSCs transition and proposes a new definition of CCSCs highlighting their complex and dual transitional/transformational nature.

The utilisation of products with recycled content (PwRC) in construction projects has been identified as a targeted way to achieve sustainable management of construction and demolition waste resources. However, sustainable applications of these resources are subject to a wide array of factors that demand a thorough investigation. This study, therefore, explores the motivations, barriers and strategies for optimal PwRC uptake using a multiple-case study approach.

This study adopted an interpretive multiple-case study approach. The case studies were selected from recently completed construction projects including two infrastructure projects, one commercial project and one residential project. A series of semi-structured interviews were carried out to collect the data. For each case study, four participants were interviewed; these participants represented design, client, supply and building teams.

The study revealed the main barriers, motivations and opportunities for adoption of PwRC resources in four construction projects. These factors are believed to influence the utilisation of PwRC to varying extents and/or in diverse ways. The findings also suggest that there is a significant opportunity for stakeholders to adopt more sustainable waste management practices, and the use of institutional drivers can help achieve this goal.

The primary research contribution of the study lies in proposing three key research directions: investigating regulatory constraints impacting the use of PwRC, addressing supply chain challenges and enhancing quality assurance.

The research has a practical contribution to the industry through a suite of actionable strategies to increase the uptake of PwRC. The strategies are mostly focussed on stakeholders' education, the regulation that supports PwRC and project management planning. The two major motivations – referring to two of the three pillars of sustainability (economy and environment) – provide a basis for organisational changes to ensure achieving sustainability in construction activities.

Sustainable building materials (SBMs) have recently been promoted to foster sustainable construction. While previous studies successfully presented the broad picture of SBM adoption, the question ‘What is the current state of SBM adoption in construction firms?’ was unanswered. Moreover, there is a lack of studies that investigate the impact of firm size on the adoption of SBMs. Therefore, this study aims to examine the level of readiness for SBM adoption in construction firms of different sizes.

Drawing on theoretical lenses and a review of previous studies, the study identified 20 factors affecting the readiness for SBM adoption. These factors were then grouped into market, organization, and employee readiness. Using the questionnaire survey, 229 valid responses were collected. The multiple pairwise comparison test showed significant differences in readiness for SBM adoption in firms of different sizes. The Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) analysis was then used to assess the level of readiness for SBM adoption in construction firms of different sizes.

The analysis of FSE showed that large-sized companies demonstrated the highest level of readiness for SBM adoption, followed by medium-sized and small-sized firms, respectively. These findings imply that larger construction firms may have more resources and organizational capacity to adopt SBMs. Conversely, smaller firms may require additional support or incentives to enhance their readiness for SBM adoption. It also highlights the need for targeted interventions and policies to promote SBM adoption across medium-sized and small-sized firms. Moreover, while market readiness emerged as the least critical category, the findings highlight the pivotal role of employee readiness across all firm sizes.

These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing employee readiness initiatives to facilitate the successful adoption of SBMs. Policymakers and industry stakeholders may need to focus on developing training programs and awareness campaigns tailored to employees, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. Moreover, strategies to enhance market readiness should also be explored through regulatory measures and incentives to encourage the adoption of SBMs. Additionally, fostering collaboration and networking among stakeholders can further promote market readiness and accelerate the uptake of SBMs in the construction industry.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: firstly, to identify the information-centric strategies of external stakeholders that influence the quality assurance (QA) in the reverse logistics supply chains (RLSC) of demolition waste (DW) and, secondly, to recognize the determinants for using each strategy.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 professionals representing five external stakeholder groups: state and local government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), forward supply chain upstream and downstream actors. The data was analyzed based on Creswell's five-step process, and the conventional content analysis was used for coding and generating themes.

The study found seven information-centric influence strategies: regulating, monitoring, leading, incentivizing, demolition approval, forming contracts and specifications. The state government organizations were the most dominant in influencing the QA in RLSC. All external stakeholders use both aggressive and cooperative strategies. The urgent, legitimate and economic core of the issue decides the type of strategy to exert an information-centric influence over the QA in RLSC of DW.

To the author's best knowledge, this study is one of the first investigations performed based on a theoretical basis within the context of RLSC in the construction industry (CI). This study used empirical data to elaborate the stakeholder theory while providing new knowledge on stakeholder influence, particularly those relevant to information sharing. Thus, this study developed a theoretical base that future researchers in the study domain could use.

Inferior quality reprocessed products hinder the successful adoption of reverse logistics supply chains (RLSCs) of demolition waste (DW) in the construction industry. Therefore, an information-centric quality assurance system (QAS), including process, people, policy and technology aspects, plays an important role in RLSCs, yet none of the previous studies empirically delved into this. Therefore, this study aims to establish how aspects of the process, people, policy and technology contribute to creating an information-centric QAS for RLSCs.

Initially, an extensive literature review was undertaken. Then, following a qualitative approach, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal stakeholders of the RLSCs in the South Australian construction industry. The collected data were analysed using directed content analysis.

This study empirically established how the aspects of process, people, policy and technology contribute to quality assurance (QA) in RLSCs. The process involves practices and approaches for QA. Experienced and knowledgeable people should undertake this process, complying with the policies and using new or available technologies. Each aspect provides useful information that should be shared and communicated with the other aspects to create an integrated QAS for the RLSCs.

The current study made a significant contribution by empirically establishing that an information-centric system of process, people, policy and technology was needed for QA in RLSCs to produce quality outputs. This QAS provides useful insights for industry practitioners, government and policymakers about the aspects they should embrace in enforcing QA in RLSCs.

The preferences and adoption of recycled materials by consumers are subject to a variety of factors, such as enablers and barriers. Despite this, there exists a paucity of research concerning stakeholders' perceived value and real purchase decision towards recycled products. Consequently, this research study aims to fill this gap by investigating stakeholders' perceived value of recycled products derived from construction and demolition (C&D) waste and its effect on purchase decisions.

Research data were collected from 219 valid questionnaires completed by Chinese stakeholders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was then employed to test eight hypotheses.

The results show intrinsic cue (materials) and extrinsic cue (brand) influence the stakeholders’ judgment on C&D waste recycled products’ value and then their purchase intention. However, cues such as quality, word-of-mouth, price, policy and advertised have not play a significant role in practice.

This research study verified the significance of brand and material cues on decision making for purchasing C&D waste recycled products, providing new insights to policy making to enhance the uptake of C&D waste recycled products in construction industry.