Urban mining: How EPEA is driving the circular economy in the construction sector

With the Urban Mining app based on Ninox technology, EPEA is able to efficiently document and evaluate dismantling projects and keep recyclable materials in circulation in a targeted manner.

200

Projects completed

60

partners

60

staffs

Customer profile

EPEA is the world's largest evaluation partner for the Cradle to Cradle® Certified program and, as an innovation partner, drives the circular economy in the construction sector. With the urban mining app developed by EPEA based on Ninox technology, the company is able to efficiently document and evaluate dismantling projects and keep recyclable materials in circulation in a targeted manner.

EPEA supports many companies on their way to a circular economy and sustainability — from the textile industry to the electronics and cleaning products industry. One focus is on the construction sector; the construction industry is already deciding today how sustainable our cities will be tomorrow.

Challenge

Dismantling projects without a system and transparency

When buildings are dismantled, large quantities of building materials are still being disposed of or recycled in poor quality. Many of these buildings contain high-quality materials, such as metals, insulation materials or glass elements, which can be easily reused or recycled.

For EPEA, the challenge was in this field of innovation Staying flexible and to react quickly to changing requirements while simplifying complex data management. Early tests with Excel quickly showed that this process could not be fully represented.

The requirements for a solution to structure and digitally represent urban mining processes were:

Recording directly on site: Material collection had to be carried out quickly, intuitively and on the move — directly on the construction site.

Rating & classification: Each material should be documented with its condition, pollutant information, dimensions and potential for reuse.

Transparency & traceability: Dismantling materials should be centrally visible, filterable and easily accessible to partners or customers.

Integration into existing systems: The solution had to be seamlessly integrated with tools such as SharePoint or Power BI.

Flexibility for international projects: EPEA operates across Europe — the solution should be multilingual and adaptable.

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With Ninox, we have a platform that is extremely flexible. We can react quickly to new requirements — and all relevant data flows directly to the right places.

Pascal Keppler

Solution

Urban mining app with Ninox — mobile, cloud-based, connected

Based on Ninox technology, EPEA developed a tailor-made urban mining app that digitally depicts all phases of a dismantling project, from initial recording to reuse.

An overview of the most important functions:

Mobile recording directly on the construction site: Using the Ninox app, materials are photographed, described and provided with location, condition and potential pollutants — intuitively via smartphone.

Cloud-based synchronization: The app also works offline. As soon as there is reception again, the data is automatically synchronized. This allows teams on site and in the office to work together in real time.

Categorization and potential analysis: Each material is classified, provided with predefined material types and classified with regard to recycling routes. For example: direct reuse, withdrawal by manufacturer or transfer via material exchanges.

Automated CO₂ accounting: Using stored indicators on material weight and CO₂ savings, the environmental added value of reuse can be calculated immediately.

Smart interfaces: Whether it's a PDF report, Excel export or API integration with Power BI, all results can be exported or shared flexibly.

Direct link to MS SharePoint: Project and material folders are automatically created in SharePoint, including all captured images and additional documents

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Benefits

More efficiency, more transparency, more cycle

The new Urban Mining app brings tangible added value to EPEA and its customers in every project phase:

A specific example: When dismantling a high-rise building in Brussels, insulation materials, glass elements and carpet tiles could be recovered by type and reused either in the same or in neighboring projects — practical proof of a living circular economy.

advantages:

Time savings: Mobile recording & automatic synchronization significantly reduce manual effort

Better use of materials: High-quality raw materials are reused instead of disposed of

Ecological accounting: CO₂ savings through reuse are directly quantified

Reduced costs: Less disposal, shorter storage times, monetizable residual values

transparency: Materials can be publicly displayed and transmitted via a Power BI card

competitive advantage: Systematic dismantling in the construction sector makes it easier to obtain sustainability certificates

Conclusion: Digitalization enables real change in construction

With the Ninox-based solution, EPEA is setting a new standard in urban mining. The app combines technical know-how, environmental responsibility and digital efficiency and shows how dismantling projects can be successfully implemented in terms of a circular economy.

EPEA has already completed over 200 projects of various types via Ninox and provides materials to over 60 different partner organizations throughout Germany.

Learn more in the webinar:

Watch the recording of the webinar with Pascal Keppler and learn more about the solution — and about the exciting world of circular economy in construction.

You can request the webinar on demand here.

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