Circular concrete reuse as a higher-value process to achieving decarbonization in the construction sector: A systematic review

The reuse of concrete components is increasingly recognized as a circular strategy to reduce embodied carbon, minimize concrete waste, and conserve resources; yet, evidence on circular concrete reuse (CCR) remains fragmented and is often discussed alongside recycling pathways, which obscures reuse-specific insights. This study aimed to synthesize CCR research, map development trends and identify knowledge gaps and future research directions to support scalable implementation. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided systematic review of 61 peer-reviewed studies was conducted, with evidence analysed using descriptive mapping and qualitative coding across five themes: CCR design and applications, pre-deconstruction and reusability assessment, digital technologies, life cycle assessment, and CCR benefits and barriers. Findings indicate that CCR research is geographically concentrated in high-income contexts, particularly Europe, with limited studies from low- and middle-income regions. Performance evaluation primarily focused on embodied carbon, with some studies reporting reductions of up to 90% compared with conventional construction. Beyond CCR's benefits, adoption is hindered by challenges in quality assurance, costs, logistics, and stakeholder acceptance. Given the carbon-centric emphasis of existing performance studies and implementation-related barriers reported across the literature, this study proposes a conceptual framework for CCR performance assessment integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions, providing a structured basis for future empirical assessment and decision-making by industry stakeholders. This study also highlights key gaps for future research directions, including limited implementation‑focused evidence, insufficient durability evaluation, fragmented digital frameworks and a lack of integrated performance assessment beyond carbon metrics. Collectively, these findings provide a robust reference for researchers and practitioners in advancing CCR implementation.