Partnership Drees & Sommer and Madaster makes circularity SMART

'As a partner of Madaster,' says project manager Michel van Gageldonk of Drees & Sommer Netherlands, 'we can use this data from the materials cadastre to provide our clients with concrete advice on the reuse of available materials from registered and documented buildings in the various phases of a real estate or infrastructure project.' 

Concrete building information 

Madaster is a perfect tool to make circularity understandable for practitioners. In a web-based environment, buildings are registered including the materials and products they contain. Documenting, registering and archiving materials in buildings and structures makes reuse easier, stimulates smart design and eliminates waste. Michel: 'The online platform provides insight into the material, circular and financial (residual) value of a building. From the design process we can calculate with these numbers. You can also use this tool to properly measure a building's impact on the environment over the years. And you can see pretty much in real time what is available where and thus reusable during the realization of your project.'

Focus on sustainability

Sustainability is one of the spearheads within the internationally operating real estate consultancy and project management firm Drees & Sommer. EPEA, part of Drees & Sommer is the founder of the Cradle to Cradle concept and within the organization the research and consultancy institute for the implementation of sustainable solutions. 'The services of Drees & Sommer, EPEA and Madaster fit together perfectly,' says Michel. 'Where we inventory and apply materials and opportunities, EPEA has the research role that leads to, for example, a material passport and building circularity passport. Madaster then records the relevant asset information and links it to source data, environmental data and the degree of circularity, among other things. Together we lay a foundation for a circular economy.'