Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review

In the face of climate change and resource scarcity, the built environment’s transition towards circular practices is thought to be inevitable. To foster a transition of any system, not only technological, but also social innovations are needed. Based on a literature review including both scientific...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Bullinger, K., Schiller, G.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2025
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173699
_version_ 1855516361369845760
author Bullinger, K.
Schiller, G.
author_browse Bullinger, K.
Schiller, G.
author_facet Bullinger, K.
Schiller, G.
author_sort Bullinger, K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In the face of climate change and resource scarcity, the built environment’s transition towards circular practices is thought to be inevitable. To foster a transition of any system, not only technological, but also social innovations are needed. Based on a literature review including both scientific and grey literature, this paper thus sheds light on the social component of existing innovations for a circular built environment. A heuristic framework is designed to classify and identify social innovations in the built environment, their similarities and patterns as well as the dynamics that arise from them. It finds that the majority of social innovations for a circular built environment under study tend to focus on the use of materials and buildings, thus narrowing or slowing resource flows, whereas the closing of resource flows seems to be left outside of social structures. The research underscores the need for a holistic approach to drive sustainable, resource-efficient practices in construction. Future research will empirically examine SI’s impact in real-world settings, aiming to uncover contextual drivers and barriers. By focusing on the social aspects of circularity, this study offers new insights into BE innovations, supporting a paradigm shift toward a sustainable and circular built environment.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace173699
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1736992025-10-26T13:01:39Z Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review Bullinger, K. Schiller, G. In the face of climate change and resource scarcity, the built environment’s transition towards circular practices is thought to be inevitable. To foster a transition of any system, not only technological, but also social innovations are needed. Based on a literature review including both scientific and grey literature, this paper thus sheds light on the social component of existing innovations for a circular built environment. A heuristic framework is designed to classify and identify social innovations in the built environment, their similarities and patterns as well as the dynamics that arise from them. It finds that the majority of social innovations for a circular built environment under study tend to focus on the use of materials and buildings, thus narrowing or slowing resource flows, whereas the closing of resource flows seems to be left outside of social structures. The research underscores the need for a holistic approach to drive sustainable, resource-efficient practices in construction. Future research will empirically examine SI’s impact in real-world settings, aiming to uncover contextual drivers and barriers. By focusing on the social aspects of circularity, this study offers new insights into BE innovations, supporting a paradigm shift toward a sustainable and circular built environment. 2025-03-03 2025-03-19T04:33:04Z 2025-03-19T04:33:04Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173699 en Open Access Bullinger, K.; Schiller, G. 2025. Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review. PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, 4(3): e0000161. [doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000161]
spellingShingle Bullinger, K.
Schiller, G.
Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review
title Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review
title_full Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review
title_fullStr Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review
title_full_unstemmed Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review
title_short Social innovations for a circular built environment: a heuristic framework based on a review
title_sort social innovations for a circular built environment a heuristic framework based on a review
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173699
work_keys_str_mv AT bullingerk socialinnovationsforacircularbuiltenvironmentaheuristicframeworkbasedonareview
AT schillerg socialinnovationsforacircularbuiltenvironmentaheuristicframeworkbasedonareview