Digital Platform Business Models for Construction Waste Management: Case Study of the Trading-Based Construction Industry Internet Platform

This study systematically investigates the application of digital platform business models in addressing inefficiencies within China’s construction waste management sector, where traditional landfilling practices dominate and recycling rates remain critically below national targets. Through a multi-case analysis of seven leading platforms spanning material procurement, machinery leasing, and waste recycling, the research identifies three core mechanisms driving systemic improvements: AI-powered resource matching reduces transaction costs by resolving information asymmetry, blockchain-enabled traceability enhances regulatory compliance, and three-sided marketplaces optimize resource utilization through fragmented supply chain integration. Findings demonstrate platform effectiveness in lowering supplier selection costs by 60% and reducing machinery idle rates by 35%, while digitalized processes including GPS logistics monitoring and tamper-proof contracts mitigate compliance risks. The study further reveals challenges tied to regional protectionism and user resistance to digital adoption, proposing strategic alignment with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan circular economy policies through niche market specialization and government-platform regulatory coordination. By establishing a typology categorizing platforms by operational focus and value propositions, this work provides policymakers and industry stakeholders with actionable insights for scaling digital solutions, emphasizing regulatory harmonization, targeted subsidies, and user incentivization. The research contributes both theoretically to platform economy applications in construction sustainability and practically to achieving national recycling targets, offering a replicable framework for emerging economies confronting similar sustainability challenges.