Smart Data Management in Circular Construction: A Sustainable Business Model for Stakeholder-Material Coordination
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The transition of the construction sector toward a circular economy requires overcoming market fragmentation, weak data infrastructures, and persistent coordination gaps. This study investigates how a digital platform can support circular (de)construction by prioritizing smart data management over transactional material exchange. Through participatory action research involving 58 professionals from the French construction ecosystem, we co-designed a sustainable business model aligned with practitioner workflows and regulatory requirements. We characterized 21 user personas, identified eight value propositions, and proposed a freemium strategy to reduce adoption barriers. Using a quantified sustainable business plan, we evaluated economic, environmental, and social performance over a nine-year horizon. Results indicate that each €1 invested is projected to generate €5.10 in environmental value, €2.10 in social value, and €1.70 in economic return, with sensitivity analyses identifying pricing and market reach as key viability thresholds. By embedding compliance automation, secure data exchange, and coordinated logistics into existing routines, the findings demonstrate how digital infrastructures can operationalize circular economy principles within the French context and beyond.
Source: Circular Economy
Institution: ETH Zurich
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7140183290