Abstract
The concept of circular economy (CE) is getting increasingly more attention from academia, policymakers, and the industry as the solution that should reduce negative environmental impacts and positively contributes to economic growth. The initiating case company, a Dutch housing contractor is noticing this increasing interest in CE in their external environment. The aim of this article is to give insight in the transition of CE in the Dutch housing industry. This article argues in terms of Schumpeter’s (1934) business cycle theory that CE has initiated a new business cycle in the Dutch housing sector. Data for this argument is collected through an assessment of the CE strategies with the use of a CE strategy framework. This article concludes that the Dutch housing sector could be positioned at the end of the introduction phase of Schumpeter’s business cycle, since there are indicators that the sector is no longer sceptic over CE and there is a general believe that if they do not move, they fall behind with their competitors. However, further transition in CE is impeded by the lack of reverse cycles in the CE strategy of the Dutch housing contractors, particularly due to the difficulty of estimating the residual value of a house.