RE:Match.D - Digital matchmaking for reverse logistics in regional infrastructure ecosystems
The construction, renovation, and demolition of infrastructure in the Netherlands involves the use of large quantities of raw materials. This results in high emissions and environmental impact. At the same time, the work on roads, bridges, and other infrastructure releases many components that are still technically usable. In practice, however, these materials often disappear from view or are processed into low(er)-value products. The root cause is not unwillingness, but a lack of overview and coordination. The right component is often not available at the right time, or information about quality and origin is lacking. As a result, reuse remains an exception, even though it offers a great opportunity to save raw materials, reduce emissions, and lower costs.
The RE:Match.D project aims to make the reuse of infrastructure components easier and more reliable. It considers the built environment as a valuable “raw material stockpile” and seeks to develop a digital way to intelligently connect supply and demand. Specifically, it brings together projects where materials are released with projects that need materials. This is done through regional collaboration points, where overview, storage, and coordination come together. The focus is on the Twente region, with validation in the Brabant region. This new approach is tested in practice, together with municipalities and companies, and improving the working method based on real experiences. This creates a method that not only works on paper, but also in everyday work. The project will run for three years, during which we will set up, test, and scale up pilots step by step.
The project will deliver practical tools and solutions that make reuse the normal choice. These include clear guidelines for municipalities and designers, user-friendly checklists for identifying and applying reusable materials, and a digital overview of available infrastructure components in the region. In addition, we will demonstrate that this approach works in real-life projects. The result: more high-quality reuse of materials, fewer transport movements, and a measurable reduction in emissions. In the long term, this will contribute to a more sustainable infrastructure sector, lower environmental costs, and better cooperation in the supply chain.
The RE:Match.D project is being carried out by a broad consortium of 22 organizations. Municipalities, construction and infrastructure companies, knowledge institutions, and software developers each contribute their own experience and network. It is precisely this combination of policy, practical knowledge, and digital expertise that makes it possible not only to conceive of reuse, but also to actually organize it and scale it up to other regions.
