Understanding barriers to circular economy design in mass timber construction: an innovation diffusion theory perspective

Purpose – The construction sector plays a major role in resource consumption, carbon emission and waste generation, necessitating a transition toward circular economy (CE) practices. Mass timber, as a sustainable and renewable resource, offers a promising avenue for CE integration. However, the use of CE design strategies in mass timber construction (MTC) remains limited. Consequently, this study examines the barriers to the adoption of CE design strategies in MTC. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 MTC experts, including architects, engineers and manufacturers. Thematic analysis, guided by innovation diffusion theory (IDT), was employed to identify the barriers influencing the adoption or rejection of CE design strategies in this sector. Findings – The study identified 38 barriers related to knowledge and the perceived characteristics of CE design strategies. These barriers were categorised into nine subgroups, including limited awareness and practical knowledge, lack of demonstration projects, regulatory and policy gaps, market barriers, industry resistance, technical and technological complexities and time- and cost-related disadvantages. Originality/value – This study applies IDT to examine barriers to the adoption of CE design in MTC, focusing on industry professionals’ knowledge and perceptions of CE design characteristics. It explores how these factors influence adoption decisions. The findings offer insights for policymakers, researchers and industry leaders to drive policy reforms, update regulations, integrate circular design principles into industry standards and practices and shape a research agenda that advances CE adoption in the built environment.