Dr Michele Victoria
Lecturer, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
Built Environment · Scotland
TRACE: Transforming Resources and Advancing Circular Economy
Developing a blockchain digital marketplace for construction material reuse hubs. A trustworthy, real-time tracking system connecting stakeholders across Scotland’s reuse ecosystem.
Why TRACE
Scotland faces a significant sustainability challenge: we operate at only 1.3% circularity, leaving a 98.7% circularity gap. The construction industry alone accounts for nearly 50% of Scotland’s material consumption, relying heavily on virgin materials rather than reused alternatives.
TRACE addresses this critical issue by developing a prototype digital marketplace for reuse hubs. Our research focuses on creating a trustworthy, real-time tracking system that connects stakeholders across the construction material reuse ecosystem. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies including blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), material passports, and QR codes, we aim to make construction material reuse more accessible, reliable, and economically viable.
The project responds to key challenges identified by industry stakeholders: limited availability of reuse hubs across Scotland and a lack of timely, trustworthy information needed to incorporate reused materials into new construction projects.
Infographic: 1.3% circularity vs 98.7% gap
Team & Partners
Dr Theodoros Dounas
Associate Professor, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Stirling Reuse Hub
Adventurous Systems
Heriot-Watt University
Robert Gordon University
Stirling Reuse Hub (SRH)
Providing operational insights and a real‑world testing environment.
Adventurous Systems
Technical development and prototype hosting expertise.
Heriot-Watt University
Academic research partner.
Robert Gordon University
Academic research partner.
Our Methodology
We combine Design Thinking and Design Science research to ensure the solution meets actual user needs.
Empathise
Visit SRH to observe operations and logistics. Run workshops with demolition contractors, architects, and builders. Collect data on supply-chain challenges.
Define
Clarify problem scope and prototype boundaries. Identify key personas and their needs.
Ideate
Brainstorm digital solutions. Select the most suitable and economical approach.
Prototype
Build two UIs: non-expert (quantities, size, origin, cost) and expert (certifications, embodied carbon). Implement core functions using smart contracts & blockchain.
Evaluate
Test functionality and usability. Fix bugs and validate economic viability with real users.
Knowledge Sharing
We are committed to open dissemination of findings throughout the project.
📚 Publications
Q1 journals and peer‑reviewed conferences documenting methods, datasets, and results.
🎙️ Webinars & Workshops
Industry‑focused sessions sharing lessons with demolition contractors, architects, and reuse hubs.
🎉 Science Festivals
Public engagement in Aberdeen and Edinburgh to promote circularity in construction.
📝 Blog & Social
Regular progress updates, datasets, and behind‑the‑scenes posts.
🌐 Project Website
Central hub for prototypes, documentation, and calls to collaborate.
Why This Matters
🌍 Environmental
Facilitates construction material reuse, reduces virgin extraction, and minimizes landfill — directly supporting Scotland’s transition to net zero.
💰 Economic
Explores the commercial viability of scaling digital reuse solutions, enabling new revenue for demolition contractors and cost savings for builders.
🚀 Industry Innovation
Provides a tangible, open tool designed to promote circularity and digital adoption across Scotland’s AEC industry.
📜 Policy Alignment
Supports the Scottish Government’s circular economy and waste route map to 2030 and contributes to UN SDG 12.
Long-term Vision
Make reused materials as accessible and trustworthy as virgin alternatives; support job creation; reduce environmental impact; and inform policy via evidence-based recommendations for reuse-hub networks.
Project Timeline
Duration: August 2025 – July 2026. The research is structured in three work packages running over 12 months, moving from stakeholder engagement through prototype development to testing and dissemination.
Engagement
Stakeholder interviews, hub visits, workshops, and requirements gathering.
Prototype
Design & build the marketplace MVP and tracking functions.
Testing & Dissemination
User testing, iteration, and publication of findings via journals, workshops, and events.
Get Involved
TRACE represents a collaborative effort to solve one of Scotland’s most pressing sustainability challenges. We welcome engagement from construction industry professionals, policymakers, and community organizations interested in supporting the transition to a circular economy. Subscribe to our mailing list here.
Supported by the Scotland Beyond Net Zero Seed Fund 2025.