Beyond measuring resource-flow - a holistic approach for a framework to assess circularity in the built environment through all life cycle stages
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Authors
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
09.2025
Type of student thesis
Course of study
Type
04B - Conference paper
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Circularity in the built environment: Proceedings of the 2025 conference held in Tampere, Finland, September 16–18 2025
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Series
Series number
Volume
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
228-237
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
Tampere University
Place of publication / Event location
Tampere
Edition
Revised edition
Version
Programming language
Assignee
Practice partner / Client
Abstract
The transition to a circular economy in the built environment demands more than recycling materials – it requires a rethinking of how buildings are planned, used, and valued. This paper presents a conceptual framework for a circularity index that integrates strategic planning, resource flows, and systemic impacts across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Developed through literature review and stakeholder analysis in Switzerland, the conceptual framework includes six indicators: strategy and goals, resource flows, information transmission, and social, ecological, and economic impact and value. It provides a comprehensive yet flexible foundation for assessing circularity in construction projects. While the framework currently lacks an operational measurement system, it sets the groundwork for future development of a practical tool. This work contributes to efforts in making circularity measurable and actionable across the built environment.
Keywords
Circular construction, Circular economy, Circularity assessment, Sustainable construction
Subject (DDC)
Event
2nd International Conference on Circularity in the Built Environment
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
16.09.2025
Conference end date
18.09.2025
Date of the last check
ISBN
978-952-03-4087-2
ISSN
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Zero Emission
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Diamond
License
Citation
Olender, M. (2025). Beyond measuring resource-flow - a holistic approach for a framework to assess circularity in the built environment through all life cycle stages. In S. Huuka & Tampere University (Eds.), Circularity in the built environment: Proceedings of the 2025 conference held in Tampere, Finland, September 16–18 2025 (Revised edition, pp. 228–237). Tampere University. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17092524