Circular Data Flowchart for Sustainable Ecodesign

The transition to a circular economy is essential to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of current linear patterns of production and consumption, particularly in the construction sector, which has one of the highest environmental impacts. Among the actions of the Commission, aimed at concretising the ecological and digital transition of Europe, there is the ESPR Regulation 2024/1781 that introduces the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a key tool to ensure transparency and traceability along the entire product value chain, improving resource management and supporting ecodesign. In the construction sector, the Material Passport (MP) and the Building Heritage Material Passport (BHMP) are key tools for documenting the technical characteristics and environmental impacts of materials, to ensure that ecodesign requirements, deconstruction, reuse and recyclability are met. In addition, these tools give an identity to enhance and protect the materials and construction techniques of traditional architecture, especially the interior areas, which are often forgotten. This study examines the major European regulatory actions in favor of circularity, the most significant examples of experimentation of MPs (Material Digital Passport) in the construction sector and the challenges associated with the implementation of this tool, including standardization, Data protection and interoperability. The study proposes an informative Flowchart for data management in DPPs, which divides the product life cycle into three macro phases, identifying stakeholders and key specifications inherent to each phase; the study also highlights the active role of the “prosumer” in the circular process, underlining the importance of informed participation in product selection and management; and how this actor can influence design from a sustainable and ethical point of view. The use of digital identity is a key step towards decarbonisation and resource optimization in the industrial and construction sectors.