This white paper outlines the most important strategies for the construction and real estate industry as well as the initiatives of the European Union and Switzerland and describes relevant legal and regulatory requirements. It also includes an overview of standards that have a significant influence on the digitalization of construction products and building materials. Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a crucial role in the integration of the circular economy by enabling detailed planning and management of materials over the entire life cycle of a building. In future, better available and consistent product information can help to make the construction industry more transparent by simplifying optimization cycles throughout the entire planning phase. Evaluations help to reduce errors or use the right products in the right quantity in the right place.
The digital twin of a building is a virtual representation of the building in the BIM methodology. It contains all relevant information and data about the building. This includes information about the architecture, the building materials, the technical systems and the use of the building. On this basis, building materials can be better recycled or reused and energy and resource efficiency can be optimized through precise simulations.
The benefits of the digital twin for the circular economy can only be fully exploited if it provides access to all relevant information on construction products. This includes all the information required by the Construction Products Act on the one hand and the information that manufacturers can use to add value to their product innovations on the other. The digital twin must be available in an open format so that this information can be used by planners and clients in the decision-making process.
Aspects of the circular economy are increasingly anchored in national and international environmental regulations. Companies and suppliers must therefore adapt their practices to comply with legal requirements. Energy audits, environmental audits, technical due diligence (TDD) and many other compliance issues will become more important than price in the future. The digital networking of product data is therefore essential in order to meet these legal and regulatory requirements effectively and verifiably.
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