Platform-enabled circularity in offsite construction: a conceptual framework

The offsite construction (OSC) sector is characterised by the potential for multiple use phases of components. It presents inherent advantages for promoting a circular flow of resources, a fundamental aspect of a circular economy (CE), within the construction industry. This circular flow transforms traditional manufacturing/service consumption cycles into more sustainable models. However, OSC actors face challenges in realising this circular flow due to its complexity in connecting to potential new users for secondary OSC components, modules and resources through selling, sharing or donation. Interestingly, scholars have highlighted the potential of digital platform solutions to address these inefficiencies by connecting circular actors to share standardised building components and modules and manage circular resource flow for a sharing and collaborative resource consumption within ecosystems. Despite the rapid development of platform-based studies, the academic discourse regarding the role of platforms in advancing circularity within the OSC ecosystem remains underdeveloped. Consequently, this study aims to address this gap through an integrative literature review of scholarly publications on how platforms can support the circular strategies to improve the circularity performance of circular OSC actors. The study conceptualised a framework to illustrate the circularity potential of contemporary platforms for circular OSC actors. The study offers valuable insights into how platforms can help minimise the uncertainties associated with sharing and collaborative consumption of finite construction resources. Additionally, it provides guidance to OSC policymakers on how to promote real-world CE projects within the OSC ecosystem. Future research will seek to validate the framework and refine its practical application empirically.