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The Role of Digital Product Passports to Enable Responsible Business

What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

Digital Product Passports provide transparency across manufacturing and supply chains by presenting a comprehensive digital profile of physical products. DPPs record detailed information about a product’s lifecycle, from material sourcing and manufacturing to sustainability attributes like recyclability and environmental impact. Each DPP is linked to its corresponding physical product through unique identifiers such as QR codes, allowing stakeholders to access a wealth of information aimed at promoting sustainable and circular product practices. This approach not only facilitates a deeper understanding of a product’s footprint but also supports the transition towards a more informed consumer to enable them to make more sustainable choices.

Why Do We Need Digital Product Passports?

The necessity of Digital Product Passports emerges in the context of greenwashing, where companies exaggerate or fabricate their sustainability claims. With increasing awareness and demand for truly sustainable products, the DPP serves as a crucial measure against such deceptive practices. DPPs ensure transparency and accountability, providing consumers and businesses with accurate, verifiable data regarding a product’s lifecycle, use of recycled materials, and environmental impact. The level of detail provided empowers informed choices, pushing businesses towards genuine sustainability efforts and away from superficial claims.

The Legislation in the EU and Its Implications

In March 2022, the European Commission introduced the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), incorporating the Digital Product Passport as a key component. The legislation marks a significant step towards ensuring that products sold within the EU adhere to high sustainability standards, emphasizing durability, reusability, and circularity. The directive mandates manufacturers to disclose comprehensive data about their products, fostering greater sustainability and transparency across industries. ESPR not only aligns with the EU’s commitment to environmental sustainability but also sets a precedent that could influence global manufacturing and consumption patterns.

What’s Required of Companies?

Compliance with the ESPR and the adoption of Digital Product Passports necessitates a comprehensive approach to data management. Companies must meticulously collect, manage, and share detailed product lifecycle data, including sourcing, manufacturing, and recycling processes. Businesses must adapt their operations to ensure full transparency of their products’ environmental impact, fostering a culture of sustainability within their supply chains. The shift requires not only technological adaptation but also a commitment to ethical practices and continuous improvement in environmental performance.

How can Sustain360°™ Enable DPP?

Sustain360°™ and Viamedici have partnered to provide an innovative solution that harnesses the power of Web 3.0 technologies to create Digital Product Passports. The partnership aims to streamline the process for companies worldwide to document and validate their products’ sustainability and environmental impacts effectively. The Sustain360°™ software’s capabilities in generating sustainable digital twins of products will be complemented by Viamedici’s expertise in managing and communicating product information digitally. Helping companies meet new regulations and reach their decarbonization targets, the partnership aims to ensure accurate documentation and validation of products’ environmental footprints, enhancing supply chain transparency and sustainability.

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