rocio osorio
Circular construction is no longer a future ambition — it’s a business imperative. Turning waste into valuable resources requires more than sustainable materials: it demands visibility, traceability and smart digital solutions that can scale across markets.
In this article, Rocío Osorio, Product Owner AFR at Holcim EMEA Digital Center, explains how technology is becoming a true enabler of circularity — transforming complex waste flows into transparent, compliant and high-value assets for the business.
Building new from old: how digital solutions power circular construction
Circular construction is often discussed at a high level. From your perspective, what does 'building new from old' really mean in practice?
Building new from old means treating waste not as a by-product, but as a strategic resource. In practice, it requires full control over how waste is sourced, transported, processed and reused.
Without data, transparency and control, circularity simply cannot scale.
Managing waste as a resource is complex. Where do companies struggle the most today?
The biggest challenge is fragmentation. Waste management involves multiple stakeholders, different regulations across countries, and a huge amount of documentation.
When processes rely on manual work or disconnected systems, it becomes difficult to ensure compliance, gain real-time visibility or make informed decisions. This complexity often slows down circular initiatives instead of accelerating them.
How does digitalization change the game in AFR and waste management?
Digital solutions bring clarity to complexity. They allow us to manage waste flows end-to-end, in real time, and at scale.
With the right digital tools, we can:
- Track waste flows from source to final use
- Ensure compliance by design
- Increase transparency for customers, suppliers and authorities
- Reduce manual work and speed up operations
In short, digitalization turns waste management into a data-driven, reliable and scalable process.
MYGEOCYCLE is a key enabler of this transformation. What makes it different?
MYGEOCYCLE is designed around one clear objective: make circularity operational.
It provides a single digital platform that connects customers, suppliers and Geocycle teams, enabling seamless collaboration, centralized documentation and full traceability of waste flows.
What really makes the difference is that MYGEOCYCLE is not just a tool — it’s an end-to-end digital ecosystem, to ensure accurate tracking and compliance of the waste management.
Beyond efficiency, how does MYGEOCYCLE support Holcim’s circularity and net-zero ambitions?
Circularity is at the core of Holcim’s strategy. Solutions like MYGEOCYCLE directly support this ambition by enabling the use of alternative fuels and raw materials at scale, while maintaining full transparency and compliance.
By digitizing waste management, we help the business reduce its environmental footprint, increase resource efficiency and move faster on its net-zero journey, fully aligned with Holcim’s NextGen Growth 2030 strategy.
Looking ahead, what role will digital solutions play in scaling circular construction?
Digital solutions will be the backbone of circular construction. As volumes grow and regulations evolve, only scalable, integrated platforms will allow circular models to expand across regions and markets.
Technology enables us to move faster, be more transparent and unlock the full value of waste as a resource. That’s how we truly build new from old.
Through solutions like MYGEOCYCLE, the Holcim EMEA Digital Center demonstrates how technology, innovation and business collaboration come together to transform waste into high-value assets — supporting circular construction, business efficiency and Holcim’s sustainability ambitions.
