Value chain reconfiguration in office fit-outs for circular transition: a network-based analysis of collaboration

Purpose Office fit-outs generate substantial material waste and embodied carbon due to frequent refurbishment cycles and fragmented value chain coordination. While circular economy strategies have increasingly been adopted, limited attention has been given to how collaboration dynamics and actor-network structures influence circular transition. This study investigates how relationships among actors shape the implementation of circular practices across the office fit-out value chain. Design/methodology/approach The study analyses 42 circular practices identified from 23 global office fit-out case studies. A life cycle-based value chain (LCVC) representation was developed by translating qualitative case evidence into relational data describing changes in actor roles, activities, interactions and material flows across lifecycle stages and integrated with social network analysis (SNA) to examine collaboration structures, actor centrality and bridging roles. Finally, a scenario-based sensitivity analysis was further conducted to evaluate how targeted network interventions influence coordination capacity. Findings Circular transition in office fit-outs is fundamentally a coordination challenge shaped by network structure rather than isolated initiatives. Users, including landlords and tenants, occupy dominant governance positions, while suppliers and interior designers play key operational roles. Exchange platforms emerge as critical bridging actors enabling material circulation across lifecycle stages, whereas waste contractors, strip-out contractors, fit-out contractors and government remain underutilised. The sensitivity analysis further shows that targeted cross-lifecycle connections, particularly those involving exchange platforms and manufacturers, generate the greatest improvements in network coordination while remaining achievable through existing industry mechanisms. Originality/value This study integrates lifecycle and value chain perspectives into a relational analytical approach for examining circular transition. By combining LCVC representation with SNA and sensitivity analysis, it identifies key leverage points and transferable strategies for strengthening collaboration and enabling more coordinated circular transitions in office fit-outs.