How can practical research improve scaling and uptake of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) in relevant supply chains and sectors? After summer, this question will be at the core of seven projects led by universities of applied sciences in collaboration with partners from the textile, electronics, construction and battery industries.
Accelerating the transition to a circular economy
Over the coming years, businesses and other organisations will be required to create digital product passports (DPPs) for various groups of products, providing a strong impetus for them to transition to the circular economy. By conducting practical research, universities of applied sciences can facilitate the implementation of DPPs.
DPPs are a digital record of the composition and technical data of products, supplemented with new data at each stage of the supply chain. Ensuring transparency in terms of product composition and encouraging recycling and reuse, these passports are considered essential in accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
2.7 million euros in funding
Eager to get the ball rolling, Taskforce for Applied Research SIA and its partner and co-financer Topsector ICT collaborated on a call for Digital Product Passports, launched in December 2024. The call provided over 2.7 million euros in funding.
The following projects were selected:
- DPP4CD: Digital Product Passport(s) for Circular Denim: From Pilot to Practice
- Digital Product Passport for Circular Use of Hollow Core Slab Floorboards
- STandardisation and Automation of Modern Product Passports (STAMP)
- Digital Product Passport: the key to a circular value chain for household appliances
- Fibre Forward
- The Molecular Digital Physical Digital Product Passport (M-DPP)
- Digital TEMPO in Construction
Further reading in this Dutch article.
Response from Taskforce for Applied Research SIA and Topsector ICT
‘I’m delighted to be able to award funding to seven extremely relevant projects focusing on Digital Production Passports (DPP). Together with SIA, Topsector ICT is making a key contribution to the transition to a circular economy, one of the missions set out in the government’s innovation policy,’ says Frits Grotenhuis, director of Topsector ICT.
Annelotte Vonk and Erik Knol acted as programme managers. ‘We look forward to seeing how the projects evolve and what outcomes they produce. Taskforce for Applied Research SIA will be organising knowledge-exchange meetings for consortiums to share insights from their own projects as well as learn more broadly from each other and other relevant networks. This will encourage uptake and scaling of digital product passports throughout supply chains, in turn supporting the transition to a circular economy.’
Find out more about the selected projects
Summaries of the seven selected projects:
- DPP4CD: Digital Product Passport(s) for Circular Denim: From Pilot to Practice
This project aims to apply scalable digital product passports in the circular denim industry, demonstrating how digital product passports are used in supply chains. The project is being coordinated by Saxion University of Applied Sciences. - Digital Product Passport for Circular Use of Hollow Core Slab Floorboards
This project researches how composite slabs (floorboards) stripped from offices or other buildings are reused in new constructions or renovations. The project is being coordinated by Saxion University of Applied Sciences. - STandardisation and Automation of Modern Product Passports (STAMP)
This project researches how DPP data of industrial batteries can be gathered, stored, managed and shared with all stakeholders securely and transparently as a way of accelerating the transition to a circular economy. The project is being coordinated by HAN University of Applied Sciences. - Digital Product Passport: the key to a circular value chain for household appliances
This project develops and implements DPPs in the electric and electronic appliances (EEA) value chain, focusing specifically on use and reparation phases. The project is being coordinated by Saxion University of Applied Sciences. - Fibre Forward
The Fibre Forward consortium traces the journey of a T-shirt from the cotton fields in Indian to production and distribution in the Netherlands, creating a DPP that guarantees complete transparency and traceability. The project is being coordinated by Avans University of Applied Sciences. - The Molecular Digital Physical Digital Product Passport (M-DPP)
This initiative tackles a key issue: the ability to track and verify green claims, material composition and regulatory compliance throughout a textile product’s life cycle, even after years of wear, washing, repairs and recycling. The project is being coordinated by Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. - Digital TEMPO in Construction
This project focuses on increasing uptake and scaling of DPPs in the construction industry in order to improve the sustainability and circularity of construction materials. The project is being coordinated by HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Read more about funding for Digital Product Passports (Dutch article)