A team of students from the UK & Ireland harnessing the power of digital technology to tackle construction and demolition waste has been named the winner of the 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge
The international 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge is organised by infrastructure engineering software company Bentley Systems and Enactus and challenged teams to apply digital twin technology to critical sustainability issues.
University students from the US, Germany, Canada, the UK & Ireland (competing jointly) and Brazil took part, with projects addressing everything from waste and renewable energy to reimagining resource use.
Using digital twins to divert construction waste from landfill
The winner, SiTESalvage, addresses one of the biggest sources of global waste: construction and demolition.
With the World Bank estimating that more than 2.2bn tonnes of solid waste are generated globally – and that up to 40% of this comes from building projects – the team developed a digital twin-powered platform and marketplace that helps divert demolition materials away from landfill.
By using iModels to provide visibility into upcoming demolition projects, the platform showed how stakeholders could identify, plan for and repurpose available materials, ultimately driving more effective reuse and reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.
The runner-up, Basola from Germany, focused on the challenge of plastic waste by creating a solar-powered pyrolysis reactor that transforms discarded plastics into usable fuel.
Leveraging iTwin technology alongside IoT sensors, the team designed a solution that not only converts waste into a resource but also actively monitors the reactor’s performance to enhance safety and simplify maintenance.
This integration of digital innovation with clean energy processes demonstrated how technology can close the loop on plastic pollution while contributing to sustainable energy production.
Second runner-up EcoTwins from Canada explored how abandoned gold mine sites, which are often overlooked or left unused, can be repurposed to host solar and wind energy developments.
By integrating technical, social and environmental indicators into their assessments, the team created a framework for evaluating the energy potential of these sites while also addressing possible conflicts around land use.
Their approach highlighted how digital insights can align renewable energy development with environmental stewardship and community considerations.
“At Bentley, we are inspired by how this year’s student teams applied digital twin technology and innovative thinking to real-world challenges,” said Chris Bradshaw, chief sustainability and education officer at Bentley Systems.
“SiTESalvage, Basola, EcoTwins and the other global student competitors demonstrated the transformative potential of combining creativity with digital solutions to drive more sustainable infrastructure outcomes for communities and the planet.”
George Tsiatis, president & CEO of Enactus Global & Resolution Project added: “These projects highlight the ingenuity and passion of young leaders who are proving that business innovation can be a powerful force for good. By tackling global issues like waste, energy and sustainability with cutting-edge technologies, these students are showing what it means to create lasting impact.”
As the 2025 iTwin4Good winner, SiTESalvage will go on to represent their project at the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok.
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