At the “Industrial Engineering and Environmental Protection” IIZS 2024 conference held on October 3 and 4, 2024 in Zrenjanin, a scientific paper entitled “Circular Economy in the Construction Sector: The Situation in Croatia” was presented on the principles and practices of the circular economy in the construction sector, with a special emphasis on construction waste management. It was emphasized that the construction sector represents the largest consumer of raw materials, while waste from this sector is becoming a growing global problem. The European Union defines targets for reducing and reusing construction waste, but their application varies among member states. The paper presents Croatia’s experiences in this area and identifies problems that hinder more efficient waste management and recycling. It was concluded that construction waste can represent a valuable raw material for the economy, but it is important to manage it in an environmentally responsible manner. The need to strengthen recycling capacities and invest in innovative waste reduction and reuse solutions was emphasized. The importance of education and awareness-raising on sustainable waste management was also highlighted, since key decisions are made already at the design stage. Although the legislative framework is in place, practice shows that further improvements are needed to achieve the set goals of the circular economy in the construction sector.
