TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring circular economies in the built environment from a complex systems perspective
T2 - A systematic review and conceptual model at the city scale
AU - Rios, Fernanda Cruz
AU - Panic, Sonia
AU - Grau, David
AU - Khanna, Vikas
AU - Zapitelli, Joseph
AU - Bilec, Melissa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - As one of the globe's leading sectors for resource use and carbon emissions, the built environment could play a vital role in the circular economy (CE). This study aimed to understand and map the complex systems inherent to CE interventions in the built environment. We conducted a systematic literature review and thematic analysis to identify CE case studies in different cities around the globe that have considered systemic dimensions of CE and their interconnections and iterations. These include governmental, economic, environmental, technological, societal, and behavioral dimensions. The case studies informed a conceptual model that illustrates how CE functions in an urban setting. The model represents the interdependencies, flows, feedbacks, and unintended consequences that may result from the interaction between the CE research dimensions in cities. We hope to help policymakers, designers, and researchers to better understand how CE functions in urban settings, and to ethically design changes in the system to achieve circularity goals. The results suggest that meaningful stakeholder engagement is key to co-designing ethical CE interventions in the built environment. Finally, engaging disciplines like economics and decision sciences, and better understanding the role of public policies and human behavior are vital to future CE interventions in urban settings.
AB - As one of the globe's leading sectors for resource use and carbon emissions, the built environment could play a vital role in the circular economy (CE). This study aimed to understand and map the complex systems inherent to CE interventions in the built environment. We conducted a systematic literature review and thematic analysis to identify CE case studies in different cities around the globe that have considered systemic dimensions of CE and their interconnections and iterations. These include governmental, economic, environmental, technological, societal, and behavioral dimensions. The case studies informed a conceptual model that illustrates how CE functions in an urban setting. The model represents the interdependencies, flows, feedbacks, and unintended consequences that may result from the interaction between the CE research dimensions in cities. We hope to help policymakers, designers, and researchers to better understand how CE functions in urban settings, and to ethically design changes in the system to achieve circularity goals. The results suggest that meaningful stakeholder engagement is key to co-designing ethical CE interventions in the built environment. Finally, engaging disciplines like economics and decision sciences, and better understanding the role of public policies and human behavior are vital to future CE interventions in urban settings.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123526935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85123526935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103411
DO - 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103411
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85123526935
SN - 2210-6707
VL - 80
JO - Sustainable Cities and Society
JF - Sustainable Cities and Society
M1 - 103411
ER -