Barriers to Reuse in the Construction Sector: A Circular Value Chain Perspective

ABSTRACT The construction sector faces strong pressure to reduce resource use and emissions, yet the reuse of mineral‐based materials remains marginal in Europe. This article uses France as a policy laboratory, given its extended producer responsibility scheme and mandatory pre‐demolition audit. Two questions guide the study: which operational barriers arise across the project timeline, and how do these barriers vary across actor roles. The analysis draws on 69 semi‐structured interviews with project owners, architects, reuse consultants, deconstruction contractors, resellers, construction firms, control offices, laboratories and insurers. The findings identify four clusters of constraints. At setup, thin documentation, liability gaps and unstable cost appraisal limit early feasibility assessments. At design, product variability, fragmented responsibility for requalification and rigid conformity expectations narrow specification options. During preparation, dismantling constraints, supply instability and scarce depot capacity raise costs and delay validation. At integration, storage limits, logistical frictions and uneven operational capability amplify delivery risk and trigger substitutions. The article proposes a dynamic framework that assigns barrier types to roles and phases, complemented by a matrix that associates each obstacle with leverage points, proof requirements and risk‐reduction instruments. Managerial implications include reuse‐oriented briefs, a dedicated requalification function with standard protocols, framework agreements and local depots. Policy implications include stronger audit requirements, a clear CPR pathway, insurance safe‐harbour provisions and fiscal incentives. The framework yields testable propositions and actionable guidance for firms and public authorities.