Passport for reused building materials

24. October 2024

Solution provider

ConTech Lab is the construction industry's shared development platform where companies from the industry can develop and experiment with new ways of using data, digitalization and technology to create the future of construction - a sustainable and efficient one. ConTech Lab commits to sharing all findings and new knowledge to the benefit of the entire industry.

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Challenge

To move closer to a circular construction industry and expand the use of reused building materials in future projects, data and robust documentation processes are crucial.

Quite often, buildings are re-modeled, and materials are replaced before their end-of-life, which results in a significant flow of materials through the construction industry that could be either directly reused or recycled in alternative ways.

One major challenge with reused building materials is the lack of sufficient documentation. The contractors do not have access to relevant information about production process, lifespan, age, chemical content, previous use, and performance, especially when materials are repurposed in ways they were not originally designed for.

So, to promote the use of reused materials in construction, there is a need to develop a widely accepted material passport for reused materials.

Solution

ConTech Lab is contributing to the development of an industry standard for a digital material passport for reused building materials. This will provide the industry with a standardized process for sharing product data, making it practically feasible to reuse building materials on a large scale.

Result

Through this initiative, ConTech Lab will contribute to the increased use of reused materials in the construction industry by providing a standardized and recognized method for documenting these materials.

The project tests the material passport within selected parts of the value chain, ensuring a solid foundation for the broader implementation and adoption of a material passport for reused materials in the construction sector.