If you’re a UK manufacturer, the shift toward a Circular Economy (CE) is no longer just a trend, —it’s a regulatory reality. The Circular Economy focuses on designing out waste, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. This aligns with global efforts to reduce environmental impacts and enhance resource efficiency.
With the UK’s Circular Economy Package and incoming EU requirements for traceability and transparency, adapting to circular principles isn’t just good for the planet—it’s essential for staying competitive in global markets.
Natural Building Systems used part of their Digital Innovation Fund award (provided by the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub) to develop Product Passports for their products. They now physically label each of their products with unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. These can be scanned to provide full details of each asset which are stored in a digital record of the product - their Product Passport. A number of businesses now provide Product Passport platforms. Natural Building Systems decided to partner with Circuland, a London based start-up providing Digital Passports for construction products, buildings, and infrastructure.
Figure 1: Circuland’s Digital Passport overview page. Each drop down menu can be clicked for more comprehensive information about the product.
Natural Building Systems products are designed to be endlessly adapted, reassembled and reused so buildings can be modified over time without creating any waste. This marks a departure for the construction industry and will position Natural Building Systems at the forefront of the circular economy. Product passports increase the value of assets by providing detailed information about the materials used. This enables easier reuse, recycling, and compliance with sustainability standards. The building materials can retain their value when the building is renovated or replaced, rather than producing demolition waste for landfill.
Circular Economy regulations emphasise resource efficiency and waste reduction across product lifecycles. Manufacturers will increasingly be required to ensure products are designed for repairability, recyclability, and material recovery. Keeping an eye on EU rules, like the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), is critical for businesses exporting goods to Europe.
To prepare, UK manufacturers can start by auditing product designs, sourcing recycled materials, and partnering with reverse logistics services. These steps can ensure compliance with upcoming UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and bolster your sustainability credentials.
Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are a key tool for achieving Circular Economy goals, offering unprecedented transparency in product supply chains. These passports are digital records that store data on a product’s origin, materials, maintenance, and end-of-life options, ensuring traceability at every stage.
Digital Product Passports will soon be mandatory under EU regulations for industries such as electronics, batteries, and textiles. For UK manufacturers exporting to the EU, this means tracking and sharing detailed product data. But DPPs offer more than regulatory compliance—they provide an opportunity to meet consumer demands for transparency and sustainability.
Start by digitising your product data, including materials, manufacturing processes, and certifications. Investing in a robust data management system will streamline compliance while supporting eco-conscious branding.
Material Passports take transparency a step further, focusing on the raw materials used in products. These passports document the type, quality, and quantity of materials, enabling efficient reuse and recycling.
Figure 2: Product passport showing Product Carbon Information and Composition Overview.
Like Digital Product Passports, Material Passports will play a significant role in EU regulations under the Circular Economy framework. UK manufacturers must be ready to supply detailed material data, especially when dealing with critical raw materials subject to tighter controls.
To prepare, manufacturers should work with suppliers to gather material data and implement systems to track materials throughout the supply chain. This will help you stay ahead of evolving requirements and contribute to a circular, sustainable economy.
By aligning with these new frameworks—Circular Economy principles, Digital Product Passports, and Material Passports—UK manufacturers can not only ensure compliance but also unlock opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and growth in an increasingly sustainability-focused market.
Digital Building Passport
Natural Building Systems have used the Circuland platform to combine all their Digital Product Data and provide full Building Passports for their clients (see Figure 3). The new building owner can be provided with comprehensive information about the make-up of their building. This could prove to be a very valuable tool for owners to manage their buildings throughout the full building life-cycle.
Figure 3: Digital Building Passport.
Demonstration at FutureBuild 04 – 06 March 2025 at London’s ExCel
Natural Building Systems will be building the bar at FutureBuild for the third year, reusing their cassettes (standardised building components that can be quickly assembled, adapted and demounted). This year they are focussing on their new digital systems which were part-funded by the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub. Their stand will have its own building-passport and each cassette will have a product-passport allowing participants to scan and see how it works in real life.