Digital pathways to circularity: stakeholder engagement across the construction lifecycle in the era of construction 4.0

Purpose The construction industry's dependence on finite resources and its linear “take–make–dispose” model highlights the urgent need for Circular Economy (CE) approaches that extend resource value and minimise waste. Construction 4.0 technologies can play a pivotal role in this transition by supporting transparent processes, fostering stronger collaboration and enabling the smarter use of resources. Yet their transformative potential can only be realised through the active involvement of stakeholders who adopt, adapt and apply these tools across the project lifecycle. The study examines how Construction 4.0 technologies facilitate stakeholder engagement as a pathway to implementing the Circular Economy. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted on the role of Construction?4.0 digital technologies in facilitating stakeholder engagement for the implementation of CE principles across the construction lifecycle. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2024 were sourced from Scopus and Web of Science. After multi-stage screening and quality appraisal, 58 high-quality studies were selected for detailed analysis. Findings This study proposes a novel, comprehensive integrative framework that links stakeholders, technologies, and Circular Economy principles, demonstrating how the active, cross-phase participation of diverse stakeholder groups, supported by digital tools, can accelerate the built environment's shift toward a circular and sustainable future. The findings show that the effectiveness of Construction 4.0 for circularity depends less on the uptake of individual technologies and more on the interoperability of shared data systems that enable trustworthy, two-way information flows between stakeholders. Originality/value The study highlights that stakeholders, rather than solely technology, are the decisive agents determining the adoption or resistance of Construction 4.0 innovations. Stakeholders' active participation is crucial, as they can either drive or hinder the integration of digital tools in circular practices. Accordingly, examining how Construction 4.0 technologies can empower stakeholder engagement across the construction lifecycle is vital to advancing Circular Economy implementation.