The Feasibility of Building Component Reuse in the Construction Sector – an Empirical Multiple-Case Study of Precast Concrete Element Reuse

Abstract Building component reuse (BCR) has a high potential to mitigate the environmental impacts of the construction sector. However, while studies have explored BCR as an alternative to the highly linear practices of construction, a thorough understanding of what is needed for BCR to become feasible remains lacking. To bridge this research gap and accelerate the diffusion of reuse within the construction sector, our study aims to identify the constituents of BCR feasibility and elucidate how such constituents facilitate BCR practice. We conducted an in-depth multiple-case study on precast concrete element reuse in Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands, utilising 23 interviews, extensive ethnographic observation data, and secondary sources. We found that BCR feasibility has six main constituents (regulation, societal aspects, building component characteristics, technological and technical capabilities, organisation of actors, and business models), each with its own configurations and effects. Furthermore, we place the results within a framework that locates the constituents of BCR feasibility in societal, technical, and business domains. Our study contributes to the circular business, sustainability policy, and circular construction literature, providing managers with a comprehensive understanding of BCR.