Material Passports
Material Passports that capture the composition, provenance and performance of an asset, so it can be trusted, valued and reused again.
Book an Audit: audits@material-index.co.uk
What is a Material Passport?.
A Material Passport is a digital record attached to a specific material asset, such as a steel beam, a door or a run of timber flooring. It captures what the material is, where it came from, what condition it's in, and what it's technically capable of, things like structural performance, fire rating, or warranty status. The concept was established by the EU Buildings as Material Banks (opens in new tab) (BAMB) project.
Unlike a general audit entry from a pre-demolition audit, a passport is tied to that individual asset and travels with it wherever it goes next.
Why you need a Material Passport?.
Reclaimed materials are often harder to sell than new product, not because they're worse, but because buyers can't verify their properties. A structural engineer asked to specify a reclaimed steel beam with no documented history is taking on risk they usually won't accept.
A Material Passport removes that uncertainty, which is what lets reused elements be specified with the same confidence as new product, rather than defaulting to recycling because reuse feels too risky to justify.
Material Index Audits.
Passports are built from the same data captured during a Material Index audit and Extended Resources Inventory: dimensions, material composition, manufacturer information where known, structural or performance characteristics, fire rating, warranty status and repair history. The passport moves with the material, from the building it came out of, through storage or resale, into whatever it gets specified into next.
Each passport carries its full history into the Material Index marketplace, which pushes up both buyer confidence and resale value.
01
Cataloguing at site
Materials captured through the MI platform with photographic records and location mapping.
02
Data enrichment
Each item enriched with provenance, composition, embodied carbon and condition data.
03
Passport generated
A digital Material Passport is created automatically for every catalogued item.
04
Managed over time
Passports live on the platform and can be updated, exported and shared across the asset's life.
05
Listed for reuse
Passports feed straight into MI Exchange, connecting materials with verified buyers.
Our MP Deliverables.
Digital passport per asset
A structured digital passport for every eligible asset in your audit
Re-certification ready data
Data ready to support structural re-certification and warranty discussions
Provenance & performance
Composition, provenance, fire rating and performance captured in one record
Full history to market
Each asset carries its full history into the Material Index marketplace, lifting buyer confidence and resale value
MP Compliance.
Standards & policy
Supports GLA Circular Economy Statement Guidance
Supports BREEAM waste and whole-life carbon credits
Aligned with London Plan Policy SI 7 (Circular Economy)
Data provided in European Waste Codes and Uniclass component codes
Ideal for
Developers and asset owners building a reuse inventory
Projects targeting BREEAM and GLA circular economy requirements
Portfolio-wide material management programmes
Manufacturers and suppliers documenting product reuse potential
Areas we cover.
Material Passports across the UK, with local expertise in the Greater London boroughs and every region.
Greater London Authority
UK-wide
Case Studies.
See how our audit and exchange services have delivered measurable results on real UK construction projects.
PDAPre-demolition Audit
1 Appold Street
British Land
Thorough Pre-demolition Audit and detailed asset register for a Broadgate Estate strip-out ahead of redevelopment.
MRAMaterial Reclamation Audit
Workplace Futures Group Office
Workplace Futures Group
Material Reclamation Audit used by designers to identify what can be reused in Workplace Futures Group's new office.
PRDAPre-redevelopment Audit
125 Shaftesbury Avenue
EDGE
Pre-redevelopment Audit for a GLA Circular Economy Statement, retention feasibility and planning approval in 2025.
FAQs.
How do I get material passports for my building?
Material Passports are generated as part of a Material Index audit. As we catalogue your building, a passport is created for every item, and the library is hosted on our platform.
Can passports be exported for reporting?
Yes. Passports can be exported and shared for BREEAM, GLA Circular Economy Statements and ESG reporting, and they include embodied carbon and waste data for each material.
Do material passports help with reuse?
Yes. Because each passport keeps provenance, condition and composition attached to the material, items can be listed and reused with confidence, feeding straight into the Material Index Exchange.
Other Audit Services.
PDA
Pre-demolition Audit
Before you build or demolish
MRA
Material Reclamation Audit
Maximise recovery, minimise waste
PRDA
Pre-redevelopment Audit
Retention before demolition
ERI
Extended Resources Inventory
BREEAM In-Use RSC03
PRA
Pre-refurbishment Audit
Before you strip out or refurbish
CE
CE Services
Advisory and brokerage
Audit Enquiry.
Tell us about your project and our team will be in touch.