In the United States, linear modes of construction prevail; on the whole, circular economy approaches are uncommon, which the report notes was likely due to the good economic growth and low rates of unemployment pre-covid-19. Carbon-intensive materials, particularly cement, are incredibly common; what’s more, waste from construction and demolition makes up up to 45% of the country’s solid waste by weight. This is projected to increase as the population is expected to increase by 23% by 2060—with a large proportion of this figure predicted to live in urban areas, which produce significantly larger volumes of waste and require higher levels of construction. Currently, 90% of construction and demolition waste stems from the demolition phase, indicating that great strides can be made in that arena. 

 The report details what legislation does exist in the United States surrounding green building, although not all regulations are necessarily referred to as being part of the circular economy. The US EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program, for example, has launched a plan covering 2017 to 2022 that includes initiatives focusing on the built environment, which aim to slash disposal rates and reduce the impact of materials used across their lifetimes. The EPA also intends to enhance data management and measurement regarding construction and demolition waste. The REMADE institute takes a blatantly circular approach, and focuses on knowledge gaps that prevent effective material recycling, recovery, remanufacturing and reuse; while the institute focuses primarily on product-based manufacturing than the built environment, it indicates that the capabilities to apply a circular model in the construction sector do exist. Finally, the report highlights the financial incentives—such as tax credits and deductions—that do exist for the building sector, although they almost entirely focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy. 

While the United States is making some effort to reduce the environmental impact of its construction sector, there is room for growth and the creation of roadmaps that take a circular approach and focus on material usage and waste management. For example, some municipalities are already implementing laws that require increased recovery of construction and demolition materials. The report notes the necessity of taking a systems thinking approach and investing in research and development, and highlights the importance of stakeholders in the built environment—with actors in government, academia and the private sector—working collaboratively.