Integrating Circular Economy Principles in Construction: Comparing Product Data Templates, Material Passports, and Other Digital Tools

The construction industry is increasingly adopting Circular Economy (CE) principles to transition from traditional linear processes to sustainable practices such as recycling, reusing, and remanufacturing. Digital tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital twins (DTs), and material passports (MPs) have emerged as key enablers, offering innovative solutions for lifecycle management and resource optimization. This paper presents a systematic review of 21 studies to explore how these technologies integrate with CE principles in construction workflows. Using a structured methodology involving keyword-based searches and thematic analysis, nine initial themes were refined into four overarching categories: product data management in BIM, CE strategies, BIM-prefabrication synergies, and digital tools for deconstruction. The findings highlight significant advancements in managing construction data, fostering modular construction, and enabling real-time decision-making, while also revealing persistent barriers such as interoperability issues, lack of standardized frameworks, and insufficient stakeholder collaboration. By addressing research gaps such as unified data standards and integration challenges, the study offers actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers. It concludes by emphasizing the need for policy-driven initiatives, enhanced technology adoption, and cross-sector collaboration to overcome barriers and achieve scalable, sustainable solutions for the construction industry.