Design for Circularity (DFC) in Construction: A Mini-scoping Review of the Strategies

Design for Circularity (DfC) is an approach that seeks to optimize materials and resources in construction projects to minimize waste generation and thereby extend the lifecycle of materials used. Conventionally, the Construction Industry (CI) is known for employing linear economy practices which consumes a vast amount of virgin resources, consumption of large amount of energy and generation of high quantities of waste. It has therefore become necessary that circular design be employed to enable a smooth transition to a circular economy (CE) for positive resource use and efficiency. Hence, a mini-scoping review aimed to investigate the key DfC strategies linked to the Circular Economy (CE) concept used in the construction industry and employed by design professionals. The methodology adopted the five-step process by Arksey and O’Malley and used PRISMA for data organization which led to the generation of the final list of articles used in the mini-scoping review. The mini-scoping review identified several key strategies that are employed to design for circularity in the construction and were discussed with relevant studies provided. The study, therefore, gives insight into DfC as an increasingly important concept that can reduce the construction industry’s ecological footprint, thereby requiring further development and research to maximize its effectiveness. Thus, it is further suggested that future research emphasizes the identification of new DfC strategies, the development of existing ones and the integration of existing strategies in the construction industry processes. Again, there is a need for further collaboration between design professionals and other CI stakeholders to see to it that these strategies are prioritized to reduce waste and optimize materials resource usage.