Heritage in a Circular Economy: Integrating Conservation, Resource Management, and Community Engagement

The building industry is one of the most resource‐intensive sectors globally, accounting for significant environmental impacts through material extraction, processing, and waste generation. In the quest to mitigate climate change and preserve natural resources, the integration of circular economy (CE) principles into various sectors, including heritage conservation (HC), has gained notable attention. The CE framework corresponds with the general intention of HC efforts to preserve buildings of high cultural value. However, the intersection of CE with HC strategies to prolong the use of buildings often remains underexplored. This article seeks to address this gap by discussing an integrated perspective of CE and HC approaches, building on an expanded definition of CE. By looking at diverse stakeholders and forms of organisation within the HC community, including heritage practitioners in citizen initiatives and local communities, we explore how their practice can be regarded as implementation of CE strategies. Discussing the results, the article advocates for a shift in perspective to consider the various actors involved in HC and their capacities to adopt and promote circular practices. Through this integrated approach, the article aims at contributing to a deeper understanding of the synergies between CE and HC.