Setting the Standard for a Circular Construction Industry in Germany

Join a team of innovators solving real-world challenges in circular construction and sustainability.

About the Challenge Partner

Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development(BBSR) a leading German research institute dedicated to sustainable development in construction, urban planning, and spatial research. BBSR drives innovation by:

✅ Providing data, tools, and policy guidance to tackle climate change, resource efficiency, and sustainable urban growth.

✅ Collaborating with industry experts and policymakers to advance circular construction practices.

✅ Fostering solutions that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.

By engaging in initiatives like the Circularity Index, BBSR is shaping a more sustainable and resilient future.

Why this Challenge matter

40% of global CO₂ emissions come from the emissions caused by the construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure (UNEP).

The construction industry consumes a large proportion of the raw materials extracted worldwide and is responsible for over 30% of global waste production (European Commission).

The transformation to a circular construction industry would have a huge impact on global environmental sustainability. Circular construction is an essential contribution to reducing the consumption of raw materials and thus to climate protection.

The Problem We are Tackling

To transition to a circular economy, new dynamic circular processes are required in the overall “building” system.

The ‘eLCA Circularity Index’ is a web application (MVP), currently developed by the BBSR, for architects and sustainability specialists to assess the circular quality of materials in building components. The circularity index of a building material reflects its ability to be reused, recycled, or repurposed without significant loss of functionality or value. The current process of assessing building material circularity is:

⚠️ Mostly manual.

⚠️ Dependent on expert knowledge.

⚠️ Lacking intelligent material suggestions and optimisations,

TheAI-powered Solutions will:

✅ Automate Circularity Assessments: Reduce manual input and improve accuracy

✅ Expand Material Data Scope: Allow assessment of a wider range of materials.

✅ Demystify circularity metrics: Make the tool accessible for all expertise levels. Help users understand building materials, their circular potential and their role in sustainable construction.

The video below explains the challenge in detail:

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Who Benefits from Solving This Challenge?

Architects
Sustainability Specialists
Planners
Construction Companies

Globally, a circular construction industry can reduce waste, lower CO₂ emissions, and preserve resources, benefiting both professionals and the environment while fostering a more sustainable future.

The Challenge Goals

Automate Circularity Assessment

Objective: Predict likely pollutants based on material combinations within building components and their impact on material reuse. By automating this process, the solution will reduce manual input, and improve the accuracy of circularity assessments for sustainable construction.

Features:

Predict likely pollutants and their severity classes based on material combinations.
Improve user experience by suggesting default values and optimized material combinations.
Enable integration with the eLCA Circularity Index for efficient processing.

Expanding Material Data Scope

Objective: Develop solutions to semantically link specific building materials with their generic equivalents, enabling users to assess materials outside the current database limitations.

Features:

Create semantic connections between specific and generic materials.
Facilitate the use of a broader range of materials by users of the eLCA Circularity Index.

Demystify circularity metrics

Objective: Make it easier for users, regardless of expertise level, to assess the circularity potential of building materials by creating user-friendly interfaces that provide clear, contextual information. Help users understand building materials, their circular potential and their role in sustainable construction.

Features:

Provide contextual, easy-to-understand information about materials, their usage, and sustainability impacts.
Offer insights into best practices, calculation methodologies, and sustainability roles.

Who Should Apply?

Technical Roles

Data scientists

AI/ML experts

Innovative thinkers

Enthusiasts passionate about climate change and innovation

Sustainability specialists

Design & Architecture

UX designers and Product Developers

Architects

Why You Should Be Part of This Challenge

Purpose-Driven Work

Contribute to a greener planet by transforming the construction industry.

Skill Development

Gain hands-on experience with AI and innovation, building practical solutions with your peers and learn from experts from Capgemini and Microsoft among others.

Collaborative Environment

Work with architects, engineers, sustainability experts, and AI enthusiasts.