BLOCH4MAT - Blockchain-based Traceability for Ceramic and Building Materials
Sector: Secondary sector · Industry: Glass and ceramics industry · Organisation: Confindustria Ceramica · Maturity level: Pilot
The BLOCH4MAT research project has been developing a blockchain platform for complete traceability of ceramic tiles and building materials throughout the entire supply chain since February 2024. Coordinated by the University of Bologna, the project runs until February 2026 and aims to make the complex and fragmented supply chain of the ceramics industry more transparent through tamper-proof documentation. The blockchain solution is intended to be integrated with BIM systems and other digitization processes and will be validated both at laboratory and industrial scale.
Documentation status
- Project status: Pilot
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
In the ceramics and glass industry, material data is critical: strength, thermal expansion, chemical resistance, and other properties must be testable and reproducible. Until now, test protocols have been paper-based or stored in internal databases — vulnerable to manipulation, errors, and data loss. Blockchain creates immutable, timestamped test records.
Research projects at the University of Bologna (Prof. Maria Bignozzi, Materials Science) and within the Futuro in Ricerca consortium, as well as publications in Ceramic World Review (CWR), investigate how blockchain can improve quality documentation in the ceramics and glass industry. The concept: test results from accredited laboratories are stored as blockchain-anchored data sets. The timestamp is immutable; subsequent corrections generate new data sets linked to the original entry. This facilitates: (1) accreditation evidence according to DIN/ISO/EN standards — regulators can instantly verify test histories. (2) product liability — in damage cases, material properties at the time of manufacture can be seamlessly proven. (3) circular economy — recycled ceramic materials require verifiable properties as a prerequisite for reuse in demanding applications.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Ceramics and glass manufacturers can securely share test results with customers, certification bodies, and regulators via blockchain — providing seamless quality proof that minimises product liability risks and facilitates accreditations.
B2C — consumers perspective
End customers can, for the first time, trace the complete origin and production history of their building materials, which is particularly relevant for environmentally conscious consumers and sustainable construction projects. This enables more informed purchasing decisions based on sustainability and quality criteria.
Employees perspective
Employees in quality management and supply chain management receive digital tools through the blockchain solution that ease their daily work and enable more precise decisions. Automated documentation reduces repetitive manual tasks and creates space for more strategic activities.
Benefits
General
- Blockchain technology creates complete transparency in the complex supply chain of the ceramics industry.
- Tamper-proof documentation of all production steps increases trust among all parties involved.
- Integration with BIM systems significantly improves digital construction processes.
B2B — organisations
- Companies can position themselves as premium and sustainability providers through transparent supply chains.
Employees
- Employees benefit from reduced manual documentation tasks and more precise data foundations for their decisions.
Challenges
General
- Integrating various actors in the fragmented ceramics industry requires considerable coordination efforts.
- The technical complexity of blockchain integration into existing production and management systems is high.
B2B — organisations
- Smaller suppliers without extensive IT infrastructure require additional support for system integration.
Employees
- Employees must be trained in new blockchain technologies to use the systems effectively.
Technology foundation
The project develops a specially adapted blockchain model for the specific requirements of the ceramics and building materials industry. Blockchain technology is particularly suitable for this application as it enables immutable documentation of all production steps and strengthens trust between different actors in the supply chain.
Implementation examples
BLOCH4MAT pilot project Università Bologna
The project addresses the lack of transparency in the complex supply chain of the ceramics industry. The aim is to enable seamless and tamper-proof documentation of all production steps through blockchain technology.
The University of Bologna, as Scientific Coordinator, is developing a blockchain platform for the traceability of ceramic products.
The BLOCH4MAT project is coordinated by Maria Bignozzi of the University of Bologna and develops an adapted blockchain model for the ceramics industry. The project runs from February 2024 to February 2026 and includes the development of prototypes as well as their validation at laboratory and industrial scale. A test platform for material producers will be implemented, which is to be integrated with BIM systems and other digitalisation processes.
The solution aims to unify the fragmented IT landscape of the industry and create a standardized platform for all supply chain partners. Integrating smaller suppliers without a well-developed IT infrastructure is a particular challenge.
Tags
Traceability, Supply chain, Building materials, BIM integration, Research project