Barriers to the adoption of circular economy in Vietnam's construction industry

Abstract

The integration of the circular economy (CE) model into Vietnam's construction sector is a significant step forward in promoting sustainability, optimizing resource utilization, minimizing waste, and extending product lifespan. However, the current adoption of CE faces substantial challenges, resulting in delays and limited scalability. The study employs the Relative

Importance Index (RII) method to analyze survey data from stakeholders. The objective is to identify key barriers and rank their impact on the construction industry. The integration of the circular economy (CE) model into Vietnam's construction sector is a significant step forward in promoting sustainability, optimizing resource utilization, minimizing waste, and extending product lifespan. However, the current adoption of CE faces substantial challenges, resulting in delays and limited scalability. The study employs the Relative Importance Index (RII) method to analyze survey data from stakeholders. The objective is to identify key barriers and rank their impact on the construction industry. Findings indicate that major challenges stem from a lack of specialized knowledge about CE among stakeholders, coupled with limited access to information and restricted opportunities for in-depth training. Additionally, high initial investment costs and inadequate financial support reduce the motivation to implement CE practices. In contrast, factors such as environmental restrictions and limited community support were found to have less impact. Based on these findings, the study suggests various approaches to enhance CE participation in the construction sector and support sustainable transition efforts in Vietnam.