Page 7 - Open Access December - 2025

POINT OF VIEW

origin, product lifespan, potential for disassembly, recyclability, 10.3 Scope 3 emissions
[24]
toxicity, and embodied carbon . MP initiatives are aligned
with the digital transformation of the construction sector, often While scope 1 and 2 emissions, those directly related to
integrated with building information modelling (BIM), and operations and energy use, have well accounted for in the
increasingly supported by public procurement requirements, construction industry, scope 3 emissions, which encompass
such as environmental product declarations (EPDs). indirect emissions across the value chain, are often overlooked.
This category includes emissions from material extraction,
MPs enable the efficient recovery, reuse, or recycling of manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life disposal, all of
[22]
materials at the end of a building’s life, making the concept which are highly relevant in the context of material reuse .
fundamental to achieving circular construction. By facilitating
data-driven material selection and end-of-life decision-making, The reuse of materials can significantly reduce scope 3 emissions
it helps retain materials at their highest value and reduce the by minimising the need for new resource extraction and
environmental impact of new material extraction. Several pilot manufacturing, which are typically energy-intensive processes.
However, these environmental benefits must be critically
projects in Europe, such as the Madaster in the Netherlands, evaluated in light of the logistics involved in material recovery
have demonstrated how MPs can promote circular construction and transportation, which can offset some gains. A life cycle
by making the material content of buildings transparent and assessment (LCA) approach is essential to determine whether
verifiable . material reuse truly reduces net emissions . Integrating Scope
[24]
[18]
3 considerations into material selection and custodianship
10.2 Material custodians decisions ensures a more comprehensive evaluation of
environmental impacts. Moreover, as regulators and investors
The concept of a Material Custodian extends the traditional increasingly push for full carbon transparency, capturing and
boundaries of ownership by promoting lifecycle responsibility reporting scope 3 emissions is becoming both a strategic and
for materials used in construction. Rather than relinquishing compliance imperative .
[22]
responsibility at the point of sale or project completion,
stakeholders (e.g., contractors, manufacturers, clients) are The Royal BAM Group, a major European construction
encouraged to act as stewards of the materials, ensuring they company, has actively begun reporting and reducing scope 3
[27]
are retained in the circular loop . This custodianship implies emissions by analysing its supply chain and material choices,
[22]
an ongoing commitment to track materials throughout their particularly concrete and steel sourcing . Similarly, Skanska
use phase, recover them at end-of-life, and facilitate reuse or has developed an internal carbon pricing strategy that includes
recycling. scope 3 emissions as part of its procurement decision-making,
[22]
favouring materials with verified lower embodied carbon .
Material custodianship is particularly valuable in demolition and These cases illustrate how leading firms are integrating scope 3
renovation scenarios, where the reuse potential of components considerations into procurement, design, and construction
hinges on the availability of original documentation, quality logistics. However, for many smaller firms, the challenge
control, and a logistics network for recovery . Emerging digital remains: without standardised methodologies or transparent
[30]
platforms, supported by blockchain technology, are being supplier data, accurately quantifying scope 3 emissions is still
proposed to ensure secure and transparent custody records, highly complex and inconsistent.
enabling actors to trace the lifecycle and transactions of building
materials . 10.4 Infrastructure for circular material flows:
[27]
Logistics and digital integration
One notable example is Rotor Deconstruction, a Brussels-
based cooperative that acts as both a material custodian and While material passports, custodianship, and lifecycle emissions
[27]
a marketplace facilitator .They recover, inventory and resell accountability provide critical strategic enablers for circular
salvaged building components, such as ceiling tiles, radiators, or construction, their effectiveness is ultimately dependent on the
partitions, while also managing documentation and provenance presence of physical and digital infrastructure that can support
tracking. Another example is Consular, a German circular material reuse at scale. Circular construction does not happen
platform that assigns reuse responsibility by connecting material in isolation; it relies on the coordination of material flows, data
exchange, and real-time visibility across multiple stakeholders
suppliers, owners, and demolition contractors, and offers and stages of the building lifecycle [24,27] .
custodianship tools like QR tagging and lifecycle documentation
[27] . These initiatives illustrate the custodianship principle in Logistics plays a foundational role in enabling reuse, especially
action, facilitating material recovery beyond conventional when dealing with deconstructed materials. Efficient storage,
project timelines. sorting, and transport systems are required to ensure that

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