Continuing the building's cycles: A literature review and analysis of current systems theories in comparison with the theory of Cradle to Cradle

•This paper reviews contemporary systems theories and analyses them in the light of C2C, focusing on closed or continuous cycles of materials, energy and water.•The paper shows that C2C provides new features that help continue materials, energy and water cycles, just as the contemporary theories provide potentially useful additional material for C2C.•The paper reveals a striking difference between the state-of-the-art and C2C.