Assessment methods as strategic tools to advance circular economy in the construction sector

The construction sector faces pressing environmental challenges driven by high resource consumption, elevated waste generation, and significant greenhouse gas emissions. The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a restorative and regenerative alternative to traditional linear models, promoting resource efficiency, material recirculation, and long-term sustainability. Effective integration of CE principles into the built environment, however, depends on the availability of assessment methods capable of measuring circularity, evaluating material flows, and identifying regeneration opportunities. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of existing sustainability assessment methods, including BREEAM, LEED, and DGNB, and evaluates their capacity to operationalise circularity in the construction sector. Results show that while current tools incorporate aspects of sustainability, they lack specific metrics to measure circularity indicators, such as material loops, design for disassembly, resource recovery potential, and system regeneration. A conceptual framework and an expanded set of indicators are proposed to enhance the assessment of circularity and support transitions toward circular construction practices. The paper contributes to the theoretical foundations needed to guide policy development, industry adoption, and collaborative strategies in circular built-environment systems.