Awareness, perceived importance, and implementation of circular economy principles: Insights from Turkish construction sector

Abstract

The construction sector is one of the major drivers of economic development. However, it is also one of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation due to excessive resource consumption and waste generation. As Türkiye continues rapid urbanization, integrating Circular Economy (CE) principles into the construction sector becomes vital for achieving sustainability. This study investigates the awareness, perceived importance, and implementation of eleven CE strategies -such as refuse, reuse, recycle, and redesign- among architecture and construction professionals. A quantitative survey was conducted across Türkiye and analyzed using K-Medoids and DBSCAN clustering techniques to identify patterns across the three dimensions. The results indicate high awareness and perceived importance across nearly all CE principles. Nevertheless, a notable gap remains in their actual application, particularly for recycling, which, despite being well-known, is poorly implemented in practice. This gap is attributed to structural barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, technical capacity, and weak regulatory frameworks. The findings underscore the need to move from theoretical understanding to practical application. Therefore, policy interventions, targeted training programs, and industry infrastructure development are recommended to bridge the implementation gap. This study contributes to the global sustainability discourse by offering empirical insights and actionable recommendations tailored to the Turkish construction sector.