Enhancing Circularity in the Building Industry: A Review of Material Passports and Digital Twin Technologies

Material passports (MPs) enhance the reuse and recycling of building materials by archiving detailed information, while digital twin (DT) technologies streamline data management via virtual representations and real-time updates across the supply chain. Integrating these tools presents significant opportunities to support circular strategies in the construction industry. This systematic review assesses the current state of research, emerging technologies, and key methodologies for DT and MP adoption. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols, academic and practice-based publications examining MP regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and functionalities were systematically reviewed. The review identifies critical gaps in the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), highlights the limited scalability of current MP frameworks, and proposes a path forward through dynamic material passports (DMPs)—a concept where MPs are continuously updated throughout a building’s lifecycle via DT integration. The primary contribution of this study lies in synthesizing fragmented literature on MPs and DTs, proposing a comprehensive and lifecycle-oriented framework to enable real-time material tracking, and highlighting the transition toward scalable, data-driven circular solutions in construction. The review reveals the following findings: (1) inadequate investigation into AI and IoT technologies within the MP context; (2) the potential benefit of combining MPs with DT technology to create DMPs; and (3) limited applicability of current methodologies to existing building stocks, as they are often complex and tailored to new construction projects. These findings offer a foundation for future development and adoption of DMPs, and inform policies, practices, and digital strategies aimed at enhancing circularity in the built environment.