Material passports for digital and circular construction: a bibliometric and thematic analysis

The linear economy model in construction is accelerating the depletion of natural resources, turning them into waste, and exacerbating environmental damage. To counter these challenges, a shift towards a Circular Economy (CE) is imperative. In this context, Material Passports (MPs) are emerging as a critical tool for documenting and managing material lifecycles. However, a fragmentation in MP generation and utility is observed in the current literature. This review critically evaluates the purposes for developing MPs, their implications, and strategic deployment across material lifecycles. Using bibliographic analysis and text-based iterative coding of existing literature, the paper conceptualizes MPs, outlines the temporal evolution of research trends, and examines their implications across construction domains. The study also explores methods and opportunities for integrating digital technologies (DTs) with MPs to support CE goals within the industry. The findings reveal that while early studies have focused on implementing MP in new constructions, stakeholder decision support, and reusability assessments, ensuing research filled the gaps in marketing existing building materials, data security, and disassembly sequencing. It is inferred that MPs foster reusability and recyclability of construction materials by optimizing material disassembly, evaluation, and digitalization within CE frameworks. Implications like data accessibility, interoperability, and security increase material value and make them available for future reuse, reducing new resource extraction. This review contributes novelty by positioning MPs as both an innovative CE tool and a bridging mechanism for aligning advanced DTs with circular practices. Moreover, it brings light to the exploration of standardized MP protocols, circularity indicators assessment, and incorporating CE business models with MPs in future studies.