ResourceNet: A Modular Digital Framework for Circular Valorisation of Ceramic Waste via Industrial Symbiosis

Abstract

This paper presents ResourceNet, a modular web-based digital infrastructure designed to accelerate the transformation of ceramic waste into Secondary Raw Materials (SRMs), contributing directly to the achievement of circular economy (CE) objectives in the ceramics sector. Addressing the recycling dimension, the platform supports structured waste collection, classification, and traceable logistics through an omnichannel digital marketplace that connects waste producers, processors, and end-users. Its architecture is grounded in formal modelling and internationally recognised data and process standards, forming a composable service ecosystem that ensures SRM exchange integrity and lifecycle traceability. To address the disposal dimension, ResourceNet embeds compliance with waste declassification policies and integrates with downstream treatment operations (e.g., pre-treatment or heat-based processing). By bridging upstream collection and downstream processing, it promotes landfill diversion and enables more sustainable waste management pathways. From a synergy perspective, the design integrates Process-Driven Architecture (PDA) and Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) to align stakeholder concerns with system functionalities, enhancing interoperability and cross-enterprise collaboration. Modelling techniques (BPMN for processes, UML for data and behavior) support lifecycle material flow tracking and promote industrial symbiosis, particularly in resource-scarce regions. A sectoral case study validates how PDA-MDA integration fosters traceability and underpins circular valorisation pathways across industrial domains.