Drivers for adopting circular bio-based building materials to facilitate a circular transition: a case of a developed economy

Employing circular bio-based building materials (CBBMs) mitigates the construction industry’s climate impacts and supports its, and the broader economy’s, transition to a circular model. However, CBBMs remain underutilized in Flanders, Belgium. To boost the adoption of these materials in Flanders, this study identifies 22 potential drivers for CBBM adoption through a literature review and determines 16 main drivers using a mixed-method approach. The top three drivers are “proven long-term quality of materials”, “proven cost-effectiveness of materials”, and “availability of information about materials”. The results underscore the government’s crucial roles in incentivizing CBBM use, collaborating with supply chain actors to innovate higher education systems and updating regulations and codes. Stakeholders should collaborate to compile and share evidence on CBBMs’ quality, cost-effectiveness, and other benefits. Although focused on Flanders, these findings may offer valuable insights for regions with similar socioeconomic contexts, supporting the broader adoption of CBBMs and contributing to sustainable development goals.