Resource-efficient circular flows of construction/ building materials supported by efficient data sharing

Important results from the project

The construction industry is one of the least digitalized industries and there is a great lack of digital data. To create a circular material flow, it is required that the material leaving a construction site has the same detailed level of information as the goods entering, i.e. waste needs to be considered and categorized as resources (material bank). The project has prepared an implementation of three system demonstrations where digitalization and data sharing are a prerequisite to minimize transportation of materials in a circular economy with increasing material fractions.

Expected long term effects

In line with Drive Swedens´s performance goals, the preliminary study has identified three full-scale pilot studies where a digitized construction logistics chain forms a foundation for efficient information sharing. The expected effect is to eventually achieve a national impact of stated environmental goals within the three market segments demolition, renovation and new production. Another expected results is that new business models will be developed, but also that material hubs for intermediate storage of materials are being established.

Approach and implementation

A transition to circular flows requires major changes in the ecosystem (value chain) including planning and requirements already in the procurement phase. Identification of materials, access and quality, new types of vehicles, load carriers, storage locations and business models is also essential. New business models, but also real obstacles within policy and regulations in procurement process, must be studied in a Business model lab or Policy model lab. About fifteen data parameters that describe the type of material, nature, number of fractions - also need to be developed.