Partnering as a Tool for Circular Economy Risk Reduction in the Building Sector
Authors
Ottosen, Lærke Emilie With ; Kristiansen, Maiken Bjerre
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2025
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan samarbejde kan mindske de risici, som aktører oplever, når cirkulær økonomi skal implementeres i danske renoveringsprojekter i byggeriet. Cirkulær økonomi handler om at holde materialer og produkter i brug længere ved at genbruge og genanvende frem for at kassere. Et litteraturstudie identificerede 25 barrierer for cirkularitet, hvoraf mange er tæt knyttet til risiko, og viste, at risikohensyn er en hovedårsag til, at cirkulære tilgange ikke udbredes i større omfang. For at belyse, hvordan samarbejde kan afhjælpe disse bekymringer, gennemførte studiet 17 semistrukturerede interviews med aktører på tværs af byggesektoren. De interviewede efterlyste nye samarbejdsformer, der deler risiko mere retfærdigt og opbygger tillid mellem parterne. Med udgangspunkt i en teoretisk ramme om samarbejde gennem netværk, partnering og strategiske partnerskaber finder specialet, at partnering i øjeblikket er den mest effektive model til at implementere cirkulære praksisser. Partnering tilbyder en struktureret, men fleksibel ramme, som fremmer tidlig inddragelse, fælles problemløsning og en mere lige risikofordeling. Selvom partnering ikke fjerner risiko, kan det skabe et mere støttende miljø for cirkulær innovation—forudsat at kommunikationen er stærk, og alle parter er engagerede i at opbygge og vedligeholde tillid.
This master’s thesis examines how collaboration can lower the risks that stakeholders perceive when implementing circular economy in Denmark’s building renovation projects. Circular economy aims to keep materials and products in use for longer by reusing and recycling rather than discarding them. A review of existing research identified 25 barriers to circularity, many closely linked to risk, and confirmed that concerns about risk are a major reason circular approaches are not adopted more widely. To investigate how collaboration might address these concerns, the study conducted 17 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from across the building sector. Interviewees highlighted the need for new ways of working together that distribute risk more fairly and build trust among parties. Guided by a framework that considers collaboration through networks, partnering and strategic partnerships, the thesis finds that partnering is currently the most effective model for implementing circular practices. Partnering provides a structured yet flexible setup that enables early involvement of stakeholders, joint problem-solving and a more equitable sharing of risk. While it does not remove risk, partnering can create a more supportive environment for circular innovation—provided that communication is strong and all parties commit to building and maintaining trust.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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