CURRENT STATE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRACTICES IN MALAYSIA’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Authors

  • Nur Izieadiana Abidin Department of Structure and Materials, Faculty of Civil Engineering, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
  • Muhammad Idlan Mohamed Narozi Department of Structure and Materials, Faculty of Civil Engineering, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
  • Nadirah Darus Department of Structure and Materials, Faculty of Civil Engineering, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
  • Suzila Mohd Department of Structure and Materials, Faculty of Civil Engineering, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
  • Chai Chang Saar School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i38.1780

Keywords:

Circular Economy, Malaysia, Construction, Contractors

Abstract

Despite growing interest in sustainable construction, the adoption of Circular Economy (CE) principles in Malaysia remains limited due to various challenges, including regulatory gaps, lack of awareness and economic constraints. By contrast, the CE framework aims to reduce waste and maximise resources by closing material loops, aligning with global efforts toward sustainable development. This paper examines the current adoption of CE in Malaysia’s construction sector. A questionnaire survey was randomly distributed to 250 contractors ranging from G1 to G7. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), applying reliability tests and factor analysis to rank the significant results systematically. The results showed that reversible and dismantled connection methods are the most effective CE strategies, allowing for greater flexibility and sustainability. However, a lack of understanding and awareness about rapidly evolving technologies and practices emerged as a key obstacle. To address this, the paper recommends updating guidelines on dismantling structures and reusing materials, providing clearer standards to support more sustainable construction approaches, which have not been sufficiently explored in previous research. These insights can help to drive improvements in CE practices for policymakers and construction industry stakeholders, encourage meaningful progress, and advance long-term sustainability in Malaysia’s building sector.

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Published

2025-10-16

How to Cite

Abidin, N. I., Mohamed Narozi, M. I., Darus, N., Mohd, S., & Saar, C. C. (2025). CURRENT STATE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRACTICES IN MALAYSIA’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 23(38). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i38.1780

Issue

Vol. 23 (2025): PLANNING MALAYSIA JOURNAL : Volume 23, Issue 4, 2025

Section

Article

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