Backcasting as a Strategic Framework to Enable a Transition to a Circular Building Sector in Swedish Municipalities : A case study of municipality-owned real estate company

The construction industry faces growing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices, particularly through the integration of circular economy principles. This thesis investigates the key barriers and enablers affecting the adoption of circular measures in the construction of buildings, as well as the potential of a backcasting approach to support the transition toward circularity. The municipality of Växjö and its municipal property company, VÖFAB, were selected as a case study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and an online survey. Qualitative data was analyzed using the Corbin and Strauss paradigm model. The study identified four primary barriers: systemic misalignment, limited material availability, time constraints, and inconsistent stakeholder engagement. These core issues are examined in relation to their interdependencies with other barriers, and a range of enabling factors is proposed to address them. Based on the findings, the thesis introduces a backcasting framework to facilitate the shift from linear to circular construction models. This framework is further supported by the concept of a regional policy intervention aimed at promoting the use of reclaimed materials. The findings enhance the understanding of how the application of backcasting in organizational contexts can support circular construction practices and offer strategic insights for municipalities seeking to align internal operations with long-term sustainability goals.