With the arrival of the new "Ecodesign Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR)" which will be adopted by the European Council in the first quarter of 2024, all attention in recent weeks has been drawn to the DPP - puzzle, the development of the "Digital Product Passport (DPP)".
Since October last year (2022) the European Union is working together with various partners on developing a cross-sectoral definition / understanding of a Digital Product Passport and paving the way for a gradual introduction with an initial focus on the electronics, batteries and textile sectors.
The primary focus of CIRPASS is on the downstream value chain - the Use-Phase as beautifully depicted by the World Resource Institute (WRI) in "the linear breakdown of the value chain in the textiles & apparel sector"
The major challenge is to reach agreement with all industries and participants on the importance of a common, extendable and flexible DPP system that:
◼ meets the requirements of future regulations and is capable of supporting the massive issuing of DPPs in 2027 (Battery Regulation)
◼ capable of supporting beyond-mandatory data exchanges to enable new circular business models
◼ capable of connecting upstream (supply chain) and downstream (customer) value chains
◼ support full traceability of products from cradle to grave
More information: CIRPASS Project
The stakes are high because there are already several sectoral blockchain-based initiatives (fashion, luxury items, textile, seafood): CIRPASS is shaping the future of the Digital Product Passport
Will Europe succeed in getting all stakeholders to work together to achieve the objectives in the Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)?