Purpose This study aims to investigate the integration of circular economy (CE) within regenerative design (RD) practices, focusing on living-certified buildings under the Living Building Challenge (LBC) as an empirical lens. Given global climate challenges and the building sector's resource demands, it empirically assesses how CE strategies enhance RD to advance United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bridging the gap between theory and practice. It evaluates the extent, patterns and barriers of CE adoption in regenerative projects to identify opportunities for strengthening their coherence. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method, multiple-case comparative analysis was conducted on 34 projects that achieved full living certification under the LBC as of mid-2025. Data were collected from the International Living Future Institute's project database and supplementary documentation. Qualitative content analysis and quantitative frequency mapping were applied to assess the adoption and co-occurrence of five literature-derived CE strategies, aligned with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's three CE principles. Findings Material Transparency and closed-loop systems appear in 100% of projects, supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Biogenic materials (65%) advance SDG 13 (Climate Action) through carbon reduction and habitat restoration. While Design for Disassembly (15%) and Reverse Logistics (18%) show limited uptake, this constrains progress toward SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Research limitations/implications The limited number of available case studies, reliance on secondary data, variability in reporting detail across projects and potential coder bias may constrain the robustness and generalisability of the results. Practical implications Embedding disassembly requirements, incentivising formal take-back partnerships and expanding the use of regenerative materials are recommended to achieve comprehensive circularity and ecosystem restoration. Originality/value This study provides the first empirical, project-level mapping of CE integration within regenerative design practice with reference to living-certified buildings, offering a replicable analytical framework that bridges the gap between CE theory and regenerative implementation.
Rafiei et al. (2026) studied this question.