To assist the sustainable development of the building sector, designers require tools illustrating the most viable design options. This paper, starting by presenting the opportunities and limitations of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and Digital Product Passport (DPP) instrument when applied to Custom Modules for Curtain Walls, proposes a Semantic Data-driven Framework to facilitate the design of low-carbon and circular façade modules. Based on literature and the practical outcome of the H2020 project Basajaun, this framework integrates computer-aided technologies that manufacturing companies commonly employ to automate an efficient sustainability assessment process using primary data. This solution innovates industrial process management and architectural design and supports the creation of greener products. It also facilitates the output of documents supporting end-of-life scenarios. The development methodology involves investigating required quantitative project data, environmental factors, and circularity information, as well as the definition of flowcharts for the Life Cycle Inventory, extending a best practice for the façade module’s DPP. Furthermore, the methodology implicates data collection and IT implementation and organisation. This is through the definition of an ontology conceived for interconnection between digital systems. The findings shall contribute to implementing the LCA and DPP practices for custom prefabricated façade modules and suggest areas for further development. Challenges include obtaining and sharing data on environmental impacts and circularity, but involving stakeholders and addressing technical limitations can improve sustainability.

As the construction industry moves toward sustainable building practices, incorporating wood-based materials into building envelope systems has become a priority. This paper investigates the environmental impact of three custom bio-composite Façade System Modules (FSMs) through an Embodied Carbon Assessment (ECA), focused on the Global Warming Potential indicator of life cycle stages from cradle to practical completion (A1–A5). The evaluated FSMs were developed within the Basajaun H2020 project (G.A. 862942), by substituting and combining conventional materials with other bio-composite products to form hybrids from bio-based polymers and wood. A benchmark ECA was conducted, simulating alternative FSMs devised with common practice solutions for the curtain wall façade to facilitate a comprehensive comparison. The life cycle inventory encompassed detailed technical information, fostering the utilization of primary data for accuracy. The study particularly highlights considerations over three technological systems of the modules that incorporate increased use of wood-based components and a novel bio-composite material: the frame profiles, the insulation equipment, and the seal system. Despite the challenges due to the Basajaun FSMs’ weight, the findings reveal that replacing the currently used materials with wood-based materials and bio-composites reduced the embodied emissions, particularly substituting aluminum frame profiles. The insights presented here offer indicators toward circular, environmentally conscious, bio-composed building envelopes, emphasizing the need for continued analysis and refinements as a consequence of increasing the accuracy of the available primary data from the supply chain and concerning end-of-life scenarios.

This research explores the development and validation activities of a bio-based façade system within the Basajaun H2020 project, focusing on enhancing the utilization of bio-based components within building envelopes to replace conventional solutions with eco-friendly alternatives. This paper reports the methodologies employed to detect requirements and outline the testing protocols undertaken to validate the façade system design devised within the project, focusing on the original façade components as the biocomposite profile. Vision and opaque façade modules are prototyped and tested following curtain wall standards for performance (EN 13830:2015) and acoustic assessments (EN ISO 717-1:2020) to showcase the efficacy of the developed solution. The conducted tests demonstrate the feasibility of integrating bio-based components as alternatives to conventional materials into building envelopes, aligning with project expectations and prevailing standards for curtain wall façade solutions. Notably, the designed façade system meets technical conditions and research objectives. Nevertheless, the paper underscores the need for further refinements to facilitate solution industrialization and explore broader market applicability focusing on the biocomposite profile.

Driven by environmental sustainability concerns, the integration of bio-based components in curtain wall systems is gaining traction in both research and the construction market. This paper explores the development and validation of a bio-based façade system within the Basajaun H2020 project (2019–2024). The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of introducing environmentally friendly bio-based components into the mature curtain wall façade industry. The paper focuses on identifying technological solutions for replacing key components such as frame profiles, insulation, and the tightness system with bio-based and less environmentally impactful alternatives, presenting the results achieved in the façade system design of the Basajaun project. These solutions aimed at creating a bio-composite-based curtain wall façade that adheres to the current building envelope standards and normative, implementing diverse façade typologies for vision panels, opaque sections, and integrated windows and, moreover, engineering the prefabrication process for industrialization and enabling wider market replication and simplified transport and installation. The results demonstrate that the Basajaun façade successfully integrates selected components and meets the performance requirements set by regulations: the façade is designed to withstand a maximum and typical wind load of 3.5 kN/m² and a typical load of 1.5 kN/m², the weighted sound reduction index obtained is R_w = 44 dB, and the thermal transmittance of the vision façade is 0.74 W/m²K while that of the entire opaque façade is 0.27 W/m²K (an additional internal wall is required to achieve the requested thermal transmittance)—the values are in accordance with reference standards and design requirements. However, questions remain regarding the workability of bio-based profiles as a commercially viable, ready-to-market solution that can replace traditional aluminum profiles in the curtain wall façade industry.

Driven by environmental sustainability concerns, the integration of biobased components in curtain wall systems is gaining traction in both research and the construction market. This paper explores the development and validation of a bio-based façade system within the Basajaun H2020 project. The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of introducing environmentally friendly bio-based components into the mature curtain wall façade industry. The paper focuses on identifying technological solutions for replacing key components such as profiles, insulation, and the tightness system with bio-based and less environmental impact alternatives presenting the results achieved in the façade system design of the Basajaun project funded by European Union. These solutions aimed at creating a bio-composite-based curtain wall façade that adheres to current building envelope standards and normative; to implement diverse façade typologies for vision panels, opaque sections, and integrated windows; to engineer the prefabrication process for industrialization, enabling wider market replication and simplified transport and installation. The results demonstrate that the Basajaun façade successfully integrates selected components and meets the performance requirements set by regulations. However, questions remain regarding the workability of bio-based profiles as a commercially viable, ready-to-market solution that can replace traditional aluminum profiles in the curtain wall façade industry.