Analyzing barriers to construction waste minimization and circular economy culture in Building projects using fuzzy DEMATEL

The rapid expansion of the construction industry has led to significant waste generation and environmental issues. While the circular economy (CE) offers a solution to reduce this waste, its implementation faces numerous barriers. While many global studies have explored barriers to waste minimization (WM), few have compared how different stakeholders perceive and prioritize these barriers. Moreover, country-specific research is needed, particularly in developing nations, due to differences in construction practices. Furthermore, there is currently a significant research gap in terms of the barriers and policy guidelines for WM in Pakistan's construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to identify these barriers, compare stakeholders' perceptions, and propose a conceptual framework to address them. A review identified 40 WM barriers, with the top 13 shortlisted barriers identified through frequency analysis. Root cause barriers were identified through fuzzy DEMATEL technique, while thematic and word frequency analyses of interviews led to the development of the theoretical framework. The fuzzy DEMATEL method identified root-cause barriers. Comparative analysis revealed the highest agreement (69%) between contractors and regulators on key barriers such as lack of regulations (B1) and financial constraints (B2), whereas clients and consultants showed moderate alignment (62%). Overall, all stakeholders agreed that B1, B2, poor awareness (B3), and unclear specifications (B12) are major barriers to WM adoption. Identifying these root causes lays a strong foundation for developing targeted mitigation strategies. A theoretical policy framework is proposed, emphasizing financial support and awareness programs at the macro level and contract document modification and material recycling at the micro level. The study concludes with implications for social, economic, and environmental sustainability.