Challenges for implementing reuse in the construction sector

Abstract

Reuse in the Swedish building sector is becoming more common and have a high potential of decreasing waste and CO2 emissions from the sector. However, it requires a new way of working in order to be implemented on a big scale. In this study, barriers for implementing reuse and their causes and effects have been evaluated. The aim of the project was to find barriers for reuse, and their causes and effects. A literature study was done in order to obtain understanding of different barriers and was used as a base for the interviews. The interviews consisted of 20 experts from different parts of the building sector value chain, and barriers were identified from these interviews and grouped into categories and sub-categories. The categories are: Technology, Market, Infrastructure, Laws and regulations, Knowledge and Culture and norms. The analysis was done by connecting barriers to each other by the help of a visual tool. The strongest connections could be identified, as well as the barriers that are causing and caused by other barriers. The results show that many barriers are highly interconnected and are strengthening each other or other barriers. Some sub-groups of Culture and Norms and Laws and Regulations were not caused by any other identified barrier, and some were not affecting any other identified barrier. The barriers most strengthened by several connections were identified to be between barriers within Knowledge, within Market and also between Knowledge and Culture and norms. The combined result leads to the conclusion that the sector is experiencing lock-in, which is caused by competition and lack of information and knowledge.