Enabling Circularity through Dynamic Material Passports: A Framework Integrating Digital Twin Technologies and Data Governance in the Built Environment

Abstract

Achieving circularity and sustainability in the built environment requires advanced mechanisms for tracking and managing material flows across the building lifecycle. Material passports (MPs) have emerged as key digital tools to enable material traceability, reuse, and lifecycle intelligence. However, conventional MPs remain static and limited in supporting dynamic decision-making for sustainable construction practices.

This study introduces a novel framework for Dynamic Material Passports (DMPs), developed to enhance material transparency, enable circular resource flows, and support lifecycle-oriented sustainability strategies. The framework leverages Building Information Model (BIM)-based digital twin technologies and internet of things to enable real-time updates and continuous alignment between physical building assets and their digital counterparts. It also incorporates structured data governance mechanisms, drawing from emerging practices in interoperability, blockchain, and stakeholder access control to ensure secure, transparent, and scalable information management. The framework is developed in alignment with Canadian digital construction priorities and standards (e.g., CCMC, NMS) but is designed for global applicability.

By embedding digital twin integration and data governance directly into the structure of DMPs, the framework addresses key barriers to circularity, including data fragmentation, limited reuse planning, and lack of lifecycle accountability. The proposed approach contributes to advancing sustainable construction practices and enabling more effective circular economy strategies across the built environment.