Title: Circular economic practices in lean construction projects

Authors: Drisya Murali; Aswathy Sreenivasan; M. Suresh

Addresses: Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India ' Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India ' Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India

Abstract: The growing global demand for construction materials poses significant challenges to sustainability and the environment. While lean construction aimed to optimise resource use, it inadvertently increased waste and resource depletion circular economic practices, advocating for a waste-free approach, align with the principles of a circular economy, emphasising maximum value extraction and product regeneration post-service life. This article employs bibliometric analysis using the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, utilising tools like the R package Biblioshiny and VOSviewer for visualising bibliometric networks. This article evaluates the impact of integrating circular economic principles into lean construction projects, offering the potential for advancing sustainable development within the construction industry. The study seeks to assess the viability and applicability of integrating circular strategies into lean construction, exploring opportunities, and providing guidance for sustainable construction practices by harmonising circular economy with lean construction. Furthermore, the research scrutinises the economic implications of incorporating circular economic practices into lean construction projects.

Keywords: circular economy; construction industry; lean construction; literature review; bibliometric analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2026.151779

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2026 Vol.47 No.2, pp.256 - 274

Received: 26 Nov 2023
Accepted: 03 Dec 2023
Published online: 19 Feb 2026 *

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