Keywords: Framework, circular economy, public procurement, project characteristics, circular material strategies, circular economy criteria and impacts
A circular economy (CE) can realize a transition by reducing the consumption of raw materials
and the production of waste, thus counteracting climate change, the loss of biodiversity and
the depletion of the earth. Public procurement is an important tool for governments to
stimulate and realize a circular transition. However, governments do not have sufficient
knowledge about circular economy and circular criteria that can be applied in the
procurement process. They need a tool to help them identify circular options and determine
the practicality and value of those options. This research provides a framework for
governments to realize a circular transition in the public procurement of newly built singlefamily homes. To do so, using the four step of the design science research approach. In the
first step, exploration, information is gathered through a literature study and expert
interviews. In the second step, the synthesis, the results of the exploration phase are used to
determine project characteristics, circular material strategies, circular economy criteria, and
impacts for the framework. In the creation phase, the framework is developed into an
infographic using the results of the synthesis phase. In the final step, the evaluation, the
framework is validated by governments and market parties using expert interviews. By
following the four steps of the Design Science Research methodology, a framework consisting
of project characteristics, circular material strategies, circular economy criteria, and impacts
is designed and validated to improve the capabilities and knowledge of governments to
achieve a circular transition for newly built single-family homes with public procurement.