Assessing global readiness for extended producer responsibility in construction and demolition waste management through bibliometric analysis

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is now emerging as a promising policy instrument for improving construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) and advancing circular economy (CE) transitions in the construction industry. However, the readiness of global CDWM systems to support EPR implementation remains insufficiently understood. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global readiness for EPR adoption within CDWM. A structured search query covering construction waste, demolition waste, policy, technology, and EPR-related themes was applied to the Scopus database. A PRISMA-guided screening yielded 197 Scopus-indexed articles published between 1994 and 2025. Bibliometric techniques, including performance analysis, co-occurrence mapping, and thematic evolution analysis, were performed using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package. The co-occurrence analysis identified five key knowledge domains, covering life-cycle assessment, policy and governance, EPR systems, circular economy and recycling, and digital technologies supporting traceability. The findings reveal that waste management and recycling remain dominant themes, while EPR-related research in CDWM is emerging as a developing area of policy and scholarly interest. The study highlights the role of digital technologies, particularly building information modelling and blockchain, in improving traceability and compliance. The findings provide a structured knowledge base to support policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders in advancing EPR-driven circular transitions in construction.