Institutional drivers for circular economy implementation in transitional housing: The case of Hong Kong

Acute housing problems have brought about a new practice of transitional housing in Hong Kong, offering short-term accommodation to help vulnerable individuals/households transition into longer-term housing. Most of these makeshifts which are constructed on idle site unsuitable for long-term housing development are removed after a stipulated period for the site to be used for other purposes. With the growing supply of these short-term housing and potential increase in construction and demolition (C&D) waste, circular economy (CE) becomes necessary for waste reduction and material recovery for relocation and reconstruction. However, studies on drivers for circularity in transitional housing are limited. An institutional change is crucial to end the prevailing institutional structure of the linear economy, characterised by demolition, for CE implementation. Underpinned by the institutional theory framework, a comprehensive literature review and questionnaire survey were conducted to identify the institutional drivers for circular transitional housing. Findings of the study revealed highly rated common and significantly different regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive CE drivers. The findings complement extant literature in addition to apprising policymakers of a combined top-down (strategic) and bottom-up (tactical) drivers for circularity in residential facilities that serve as stopgaps. This could enable policymakers and practitioners to accelerate CE adoption in transitional housing and general construction projects. Beyond Hong Kong, the findings are relevant to international organizations to facilitate circular transitional housing markets or strategies in countries that are prone to natural disasters or in case of emergency to provide short-term shelter for vulnerable individuals, with less C&D waste generation during and after construction and deconstruction of such facilities.