September - 2021CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM9 Challenges in the Construction Industry to Implement Material Passports in GeneralCurrently, buildings are demolished with little consideration to re-use its materials. How much can be retained and what can be recycled is not documented at the onset on design and verified during demolition. This may have adverse effects to our environment. In a circular economy, materials are reused, which indirectly upholds the monetary worth and the value of the products and systems is conserved. Currently, only a few countries are following the circular economy pattern and is new to many others.This practice is not fully developed; hence the construction industry, especially in Asia, is not much aware of the benefits of this concept. However, countries where material passporting has begun, are seeing the industry tracking well in the adoption of the concept, keeping in view the cost of construction, improved utilization of resources and the environment of our planet. The demand for natural resources will increase in the near future as populations rise. With the increase in demand for materials, more waste is expected to be generated. The earth is a closed planet, so it is tough to deal with the waste as well. Land, materials, natural resources are limited in supply. Therefore, designers have to use these resources wisely so that our next generations do not have to suffer. The Building sector plays an important role in reducing the waste on our planet because it is the largest user of resources and the largest producer of waste. Waste can be reduced if we focus more on recycling. Along with recycling, it is important to have knowledge about the materials which can be reused. Keeping in mind the capability of our Earth and the increasing world population, resource scarcity is expected in the near future. This scarcity of resources will lead to a price increase for materials required for building. In a circular economy, materials are kept in use for as long as possible. The suggestion is to maintain the value of materials, products or components. Materials are valuable if they are accessible, functional and attractive. This requires that materials or building products be removed from a building after their lifetime with minimal effort, contamination and without loss of quality.The benefits for good material passport in buildings include but are not limited to: · Improvement in indoor air quality· Increase in value stability· Reduction of the disposal costs by the avoidance of impurities· Increased employee satisfaction (e.g. lower absenteeism, health promotion)· Quality assurance in construction· Optimization of resource extraction (sustainable consumption and climate protection)· Compliance with increasingly stronger regulatory requirements· Contribution to the achievement of national and international goals and standards (e.g. UN Sustainable Development Goals, Circular Economy Goals)· Cost-optimised maintenance Therefore, it can be concluded that:1. With a material passport, we can look into the deconstruction or demolition of the properties. We can also look for the highest possible usability of the materials which are used after the premises have been vacated or demolished. 2. There is an opportunity to recover more reusable parts by selling the small separate parts instead of the building as a whole.3. Material Passport increases the value of materials or keeps the same value of products and components even over a period of time.4. Choosing healthy, sustainable, and circular building materials is easier for the developers, renovators and managers.5. Material passport is also considered as a one-fix-shop to explain Circular Economy value across the building cycle. Its main target is using and reusing the same components and materials. With this, there will be less wastage. Materials Passports platform helps in bridging the gap in the marketplace.Therefore, the concept of Material Passport is excellent for the environment, but there would be a capital cost that may delay initial adoptions. But weighing the environmental impact, the initial cost is minuscule compared to the benefits of extending and improving the lifetime of the building materials, all finite materials that the earth has to offer. Material passports are meaningful and thoughtful tools to bridge that gap. This idea can improve clarity and access to information on the component materials and products used during building construction and renovation. Material passports help in such practices like reusing the materials also supports and give a better shape to the business models that come under the construction sector. The Construction industry of Singapore is in a good position to adopt Material Passport as the foundations of DfMA, BIM, and other initiatives have paved the way for adoption. However, there would still be much study needed on the processes of BIM libraries, updating of the Material and Building Passport and the design process using BIM for Material Passporting. Nonetheless, because of the current initiatives by the Singapore Government that is in place for the Construction Industry, it is in a good position for adoption and contributing to the saving of the Environment. Like our personal passport, which gives us identity and is required for travelling purposes, the material passport provides identity to used or waste materials
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