From Pilot to Practice: How reuse can become an established practice in construction

This project investigates how the reuse of construction products can move from isolated pilot projects to become an established practice within construction companies. The focus is on how reuse is integrated into the contract and design phases through working methods, roles, and governance structures that enable long-term change.

The construction sector faces major challenges related to climate impact, resource consumption, and waste generation. Reusing construction products is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for reducing the sector’s carbon footprint and supporting the transition to a circular economy. At the same time, both research and industry experience show that reuse is still largely implemented through individual pilot projects and has struggled to become part of mainstream construction practice.

The project examines how reuse is actually shaped and enacted in the everyday reality of construction projects. Particular attention is given to the period from contract award to the completion of design activities, where many of the decisions that influence the feasibility of reuse are made. By studying how goals, ambitions, and strategies are translated into concrete decisions regarding material selection, responsibilities, planning, and technical solutions, the project seeks to increase understanding of what is required for reuse to become an established practice across the sector.

The researchers will study ongoing construction projects in which reuse is being planned or implemented in practice. Through interviews, document studies, observations, and workshops, the project will analyse how different actors work with reuse and how existing project structures influence the integration of circular practices. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction between design, procurement, sustainability functions, and production, as well as to how responsibilities, risks, and decisions are negotiated and managed within project organizations.

The project is based on the premise that reuse is not only a technical issue but also a process of organizational and institutional change. For reuse to become a lasting part of construction practice, established routines, roles, and governance structures need to evolve and adapt. The study therefore focuses on how new practices emerge through everyday work and how lessons learned from pilot projects can be translated into enduring ways of working across the organisation.

The results are expected to provide new knowledge about how construction companies can support the establishment of reuse as an integrated part of their practice. The project will deliver practical recommendations regarding roles, routines, and governance structures that facilitate reuse in construction projects, while also contributing to a broader understanding of how circular practices become institutionalized within the construction sector. In doing so, the project can contribute to reduced climate impact, more efficient resource use, and a faster transition towards a more circular built environment.