Figure 1
Flow diagram of the review.
Table 1
Suggested policy measures to promote the development of design for disassembly (DfD) construction.
| MEASURE | POTENTIAL EFFECT | REFERENCES |
|---|---|---|
| Developing and strengthening legislation on the end-of-life management of buildings | Enables the integration of material reuse into the building process | Akbarieh et al. (2020); Jayawardana et al. (2023); Kanters (2018); Lausselet et al. (2023); Pittri et al. (2025); Rios et al. (2021); Sassi (2008) |
| Updating building codes to support DfD principles | Mandates that buildings be designed to be easily demountable and their components reusable | Lausselet et al. (2023); Pittri et al. (2025); Rios et al. (2021) |
| Establishing clear guidelines and standards for the reuse of DfD building components | Clarifies for building operators how to safely reuse DfD components. Removes uncertainty about the use of reusable materials and may increase demand for them | Akbarieh et al. (2020); Banihashemi et al. (2024); Cai & Waldmann (2019); Torgautov et al. (2021) |
| Raising awareness of the benefits of DfD construction | Improves the understanding of the importance of DfD | Pittri et al.(2024b) |
| Providing education on DfD construction | Increases awareness of DfD construction among stakeholders | Zhan et al. (2025) |
| Turning public construction projects into DfD construction pilot projects | Serves as an example for other construction actors and demonstrates the feasibility of DfD construction | Fernandes & Ferrão (2023); Pittri et al.(2024b) |
| Using public procurement criteria to promote DfD construction | Encourages construction companies and designers to use DfD principles through procurement requirements | Zhan et al. (2025) |
| Modifying sustainability rating systems to emphasise DfD construction | Encourages construction projects to use DfD practices, materials and components that support demountability | Akinade et al. (2017, 2020); Joensuu et al. (2022); Ostapska et al. (2024) |
| Developing local resource recovery parks | Enables efficient reuse of deconstructed building components | Rios et al. (2015); Sassi (2008) |
| Extended producer responsibility (EPR) | Holds manufacturers responsible for the life-cycle management and recycling of building materials | Charef et al. (2022); Rios et al. (2015) |
| Expedited permitting processes for sustainable construction projects | Speeds up the implementation of DfD buildings and makes them more attractive to developers | Fernandes & Ferrão (2023) |
| Certificates and awards | Encourages companies and building owners to adopt DfD principles | Zhan et al. (2025) |
| Developing business models | Enables the use of DfD principles | Lausselet et al. (2023) |
| Financial incentives and tax increases for conventional construction | Encourages actors to adopt DfD principles | Guerra & Leite (2021); Rios et al. (2015, 2021); Zhan et al. (2025) |
Figure 2
Action plan for promoting design for disassembly (DfD) construction.