Comprehensive circularity: Assessing social performances for the growing application of reuse in construction
(2025) Circularity in the Built Environment — Location: Tampere (16.September.2025)
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- The built environment is responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions and up to 40% of global construction and demolition waste (CDW). Facing these major challenges, the circular economy (CE) offers a promising framework for transforming construction practices in favour of ecological transition. For this solution to be sustainable, it must include the 3 pillars of sustainability: environment, economy, and social. Yet current approaches remain predominantly technocentric—focused on material and economic efficiencies—while often neglecting the social dimension, although it is essential. In response to this gap, this research aims to develop a robust and operational framework for integrating social justice, innovation, and inclusion into circular construction strategies. It builds on the hypothesis that measuring and making the social value tangible within reuse practices—such as employment quality, community engagement, and benefit-sharing—can actively enhance their adoption. Specifically, it assumes that simplified, context-sensitive tools to assess social factors may foster greater acceptance and implementation of reuse strategies within the construction sector. Methodologically, the project is grounded in Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) guidelines. Building on Crossed Impact Balance (CIB) principles and supported by social and economic evaluation tools such as Social Return on Investment (SROI), the project aims to develop new indicators for assessing social performance in CE practices. It will also reinforce S-LCA guidelines and associated tools, with a particular focus on material reuse and deconstruction strategies. The approach integrates qualitative fieldwork—interviews, case studies, and participatory workshops—with policy analysis and S-LCA recommendations to align technical tools with real-world socio-political contexts. The resulting framework is intended to support decision-makers in recognising and amplifying the social dimensions of circularity. By fostering inclusive employment, equitable value distribution, and meaningful stakeholder participation, the project aims to contribute to a just, scalable, and socially embedded transition in the construction industry
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Monti, A., & Gobbo, E. (2025). Comprehensive circularity: Assessing social performances for the growing application of reuse in construction. Circularity in the Built Environment, Tampere. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17092525