Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context

The simultaneous insecurity of water, energy, and food resources, known as the Perfect Storm, requires a mitigating solution for resource security and sustainability. Hence, given the existing gap in the built environment regarding the lack of a clear relationship between the circular economy concep...

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Main Authors: Love Opeyemi David, Clinton Aigbavboa, Omoseni Adepoju, Nwulu Nnamdi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Sustainable Futures
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825000140
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author Love Opeyemi David
Clinton Aigbavboa
Omoseni Adepoju
Nwulu Nnamdi
author_facet Love Opeyemi David
Clinton Aigbavboa
Omoseni Adepoju
Nwulu Nnamdi
author_sort Love Opeyemi David
collection DOAJ
description The simultaneous insecurity of water, energy, and food resources, known as the Perfect Storm, requires a mitigating solution for resource security and sustainability. Hence, given the existing gap in the built environment regarding the lack of a clear relationship between the circular economy concept and its contribution to mitigating the perfect storm, this paper utilizes a qualitative research methodology of Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and Bibliometric Analysis. The paper analyzed how the circular economy concept within the built environment can effectively reduce resource pressure, thereby mitigating the perfect storm. The research findings show that nine (9) successful circular economy strategies are used in the built environment. In using the concept of circular economy in the built environment to mitigate the perfect storm, the paper proposed four (4) circular economy solutions with areas of applications and how they contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These are material efficiency in building construction & circular economy strategies, Resource efficiency, organizational capital development in construction 4.0, and adoption of smart city principles, which address resource insecurity. The paper concluded that the study had widened the application of the circular economy concept from the need for production processes in the manufacturing sector to the prevention of unsustainable activities in the built environment and how it can aid in managing resources like water, energy, and food resources. The study also provided two policy recommendations: circular economy supply chain policies for the built environment and circular economy financing for sustainable materials.
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spelling doaj-art-f8eb25fdfd03492087683ca8d1703e712025-01-16T04:29:16ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882025-06-019100444Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment contextLove Opeyemi David0Clinton Aigbavboa1Omoseni Adepoju2Nwulu Nnamdi3Centre for Cyber-Physical water, energy and food systems (CCPFEWS), Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research Center (SHSCRC) Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, 2092, Johannesburg, South Africa; Corresponding author.Sustainable Human settlement and Construction Research Center (SHSCRC), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, 2092, Johannesburg, South AfricaDepartment of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, 200255, Ibadan, Nigeria, Centre for Cyber-Physical water, energy, and food systems (CCPFEWS), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, 2092, Johannesburg, South AfricaCentre for Cyber-Physical Water, energy, and Food Systems (CCPFEWS), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, 2092, Johannesburg South AfricaThe simultaneous insecurity of water, energy, and food resources, known as the Perfect Storm, requires a mitigating solution for resource security and sustainability. Hence, given the existing gap in the built environment regarding the lack of a clear relationship between the circular economy concept and its contribution to mitigating the perfect storm, this paper utilizes a qualitative research methodology of Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and Bibliometric Analysis. The paper analyzed how the circular economy concept within the built environment can effectively reduce resource pressure, thereby mitigating the perfect storm. The research findings show that nine (9) successful circular economy strategies are used in the built environment. In using the concept of circular economy in the built environment to mitigate the perfect storm, the paper proposed four (4) circular economy solutions with areas of applications and how they contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These are material efficiency in building construction & circular economy strategies, Resource efficiency, organizational capital development in construction 4.0, and adoption of smart city principles, which address resource insecurity. The paper concluded that the study had widened the application of the circular economy concept from the need for production processes in the manufacturing sector to the prevention of unsustainable activities in the built environment and how it can aid in managing resources like water, energy, and food resources. The study also provided two policy recommendations: circular economy supply chain policies for the built environment and circular economy financing for sustainable materials.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825000140Circular economyPerfect stormBuilt environmentFoodEnergy and water resources
spellingShingle Love Opeyemi David
Clinton Aigbavboa
Omoseni Adepoju
Nwulu Nnamdi
Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context
Sustainable Futures
Circular economy
Perfect storm
Built environment
Food
Energy and water resources
title Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context
title_full Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context
title_fullStr Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context
title_full_unstemmed Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context
title_short Applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm: The built environment context
title_sort applying circular economy strategies in mitigating the perfect storm the built environment context
topic Circular economy
Perfect storm
Built environment
Food
Energy and water resources
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825000140
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