Public Sector Role as a Key Stakeholder Towards the Circular Economy in the Built Environment in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) concept is a more appropriate approach to meet the sustainability challenges of today's construction industry, allowing construction activities to operate in a closed loop, away from the traditional linear economy model (LE). Although some CE principles are applied in Sri Lanka, they are not fully implemented. As a policy maker, the public sector should play a significant role in implementing CE in the built environment. However, limited attention has been paid to this, and no research has identified the public sector’s role in this regard. The primary aim of this research is to explore the role and potential contribution of the public sector as a key stakeholder in implementing CE in Sri Lanka’s built environment. To achieve this, global and local practices were examined to understand how CE principles are applied and to provide recommendations for improving CE adoption. The benefits and challenges to the public sector and private sector views on its role in CE implementation were also explored. A mixed approach was used for data collection. Expert interviews and questionnaires were developed after gaining a thorough understanding of CE principles through a comprehensive literature review. Ten expert interviews and thirty-eight questionnaire responses were analyzed. Although the public sector has initiated efforts such as green building standards and waste management, the study found a need for a stronger regulatory framework, institutional support, and collaboration with the private sector. Challenges such as limited awareness, high start-up costs, and regulatory gaps were identified. The research emphasized the importance of CE policies, financial incentives, and public-private partnerships. It also stressed the need for training and awareness programs to equip stakeholders with the knowledge required to implement CE.