Development of a Decentralized Digital Product Passport for Enhanced Lifecycle Management of Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Abstract

The Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation has introduced the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a key tool for tracking and promoting the sustainable development of products. Despite the growing interest in DPPs, standardized models are yet to be established, with only experimental alternatives available from various organizations. Moreover, no existing model fully exploits the data, as conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) still necessitates acquiring additional data from various life cycle stages. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing a fully decentralized DPP prototype specifically for the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sector. The research begins by defining a tree-structured hierarchical model for data collection and management, aligning with regulatory standards. The prototype’s implementation employs an eXtended Markup Language (XML) file for data digitalization and blockchain technology to ensure secure data sharing and storage. Tested on a household appliance, the DPP prototype demonstrates how digital passports can enhance product lifecycle management, driving sustainability in the EEE sector and supporting the implementation of circular economy scenarios.