Circular economy adoption in Hong Kong transitional housing: a multi-theoretical framework for institutional transformation

Purpose The three-to-five-year wait for public housing in Hong Kong (HK) illustrates the housing shortage. The government has resorted to various approaches of transitional housing supplies. One of which is building transitional housing on vacant land as a temporary solution. Such housing facilities are built for a minimum of seven years or even less. When the hosting site is no longer accessible, the transitional housing is deconstructed and moved to a new available location to serve a second lifecycle. Ensuring circular economy (CE) adoption in transitional housing is essential to reduce construction and demolition waste and to promote circular transitional housing. Design/methodology/approach Using institutional and innovation adoption theories as a foundation, this study identifies key institutional obstacles to CE adoption in transitional housing in HK. Major CE barriers from a review were refined through expert interviews. Collected questionnaire data from construction professionals were analysed. Findings Findings revealed significant differences in underlying institutional barriers between the views of CE adopters and non-adopters. From the perspective of CE adopters, regulative barriers were the most critical, followed by normative barriers. However, from the non-adopters, normative barriers were paramount and then regulative barriers. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted with a relatively small sample size (i.e., 51) due to difficulties in collecting responses to the questionnaire. Originality/value Uncovering the barriers is the first step to developing a viable solution for CE in transitional housing. The findings could inform decision-makers of general and tailored policies to expedite CE transition by innovators, early adopters and early majority and to begin CE implementation by the late majority and the laggards to promote circular transitional housing in HK and beyond.