Data requirements for a material passport in the Sri Lankan construction industry

Abstract

Material Passports have emerged as an effective digital tool enabling systematic documentation of material information throughout the building lifecycle, supporting Circular Economy principles in the Built Environment. However, the concept of Material Passport is relatively new to the Sri Lankan context, and there is currently a lack of a standardized template specifying the data requirements necessary for their implementation. Therefore, this study aims to identify the data requirements needed to develop a standardized MP template for the Sri Lankan BE. A qualitative research approach was adopted for this study. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify commonly used MP data categories reported in previous studies. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in the building lifecycle. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis with predefined coding categories. The findings revealed that while categories like product features, composition, and maintenance are applicable, environmental impact and end-of-life deconstruction details are currently lacking in local practice. As an intermediate solution, it is proposed to retain these as descriptive open fields accompanied by guidance notes. Structuring these fields requires careful consideration to ensure backward compatibility and support a future transition toward dynamic material passports, with green building rating systems potentially serving as market-based catalysts to incentivize their use. This study provides a foundation for developing a context-specific MP template for Sri Lanka, which can enhance material traceability, improve lifecycle information management, and support gradual transition towards CE practices within the BE in Sri Lanka.