An evaluation of determinants influencing the adoption of circular economy principles in Nigerian construction SMEs

ABSTRACT Recent global-wide events including the COVID-19 pandemic have triggered further concerns for construction organizations and policy makers to rethink their resource utilization particularly as most nations gradually return to normalcy. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to appraise the current barriers and drivers of circular economy (CE) concept implementation among construction small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Focus groups were used to answer the overarching question on the determinants influencing CE implementation within construction SMEs. The focus groups revealed a wealth of CE practice detailed information and insights into emerging CE research themes. The study found that the CE concept makes strong arguments for achieving value in economies by reusing, repairing and recycling of constrained resources during operational activities especially within the built environment. Moreover, the findings of this study provide a basis for the research community and practitioners to recognize how various determinants can be coalesced to influence CE adoption and to potentially yield sustainably organizationally valued outputs.