Purpose The study aims to conduct a holistic review of academic development and identify key research themes on Reverse Logistics (RL) in the construction industry (CI). The review identified key research trends, thematic clusters and existing gaps to broaden understanding of how RL contributes to sustainable development in the built environment. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted, incorporating bibliometric and content analyses. The Scopus database was used to collect articles covering the period 2000 to 2024. A total of 82 articles were identified and analysed. Findings The study found that research on RL in the CI has significantly increased over the past decade, with Australia leading scholar contributions. Four key thematic clusters were discovered: demolition waste management, sustainability, stakeholder-driven decision-making and barriers to implementation. The review also highlighted RL'scontributions in attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially goals 7 and 12. However, limited empirical studies exist; thus, future research is recommended to focus on cross-geographical analyses and material-specific RL strategies. Originality/value The study involves a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on RL in the CI, which, to the authors' best knowledge, is the first of its kind. In addition, it presents an integrated conceptual framework that provides a comprehensive foundation for implementing RL in the construction sector. This framework reflects clear implications for researchers, practitioners and policymakers seeking to implement sustainable RL practices in the CI.
Wijewickrama et al. (2026) studied this question.