Austria launches lighthouse project: Digital product passport for a sustainable future!

Austria launches lighthouse project: Digital product passport for a sustainable future!

The Austrian lighthouse project for the digital product pass (DPP) called PASSAT will start in Vienna at the end of February 2025. This project involves collaboration between 21 companies, research institutions and networks, including the Industry 4.0 platform. The aim of the project is to implement the DPP in Austria to support companies in the transformation to a circular economy and sustainable production. The focus is on two reference sectors: textiles and electronics.

Addressing the issue of DPP at an early stage is considered crucial. In order to comprehensively prepare the industry, measures such as education, training and networking are part of the project. The results should also be transferable to the ski industry and include use cases such as product identification in textiles and data space approaches for material reuse in recycling. The DPP is also part of the new Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR), which aims to collect key product data to reduce waste and extend the life of products.

Support for SMEs and project partners

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receive support in implementing the DPP. The project management lies with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, with 19 Austrian and two German partners involved. The partners include Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH and the University of Continuing Education Krems. The project is also funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.

The Industry 4.0 Austria platform, which was founded in 2015, aims to promote the dynamic development of the production sector and promote innovation and qualification. The integration of the DPP into the EU’s “Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI)” is seen as an important element in supporting the circular economy in Europe.

European context and future developments

In the context of the EU Green Deal, the digital product passport is viewed as a central instrument for promoting the circular economy. The DPP is expected to be introduced in 2027 and will be mandatory for products traded in Europe, including imported goods. Exceptions should apply to food and feed as well as medical products. The aim is to improve the availability of information about the circularity of products and increase transparency along the supply chain.

The DPP includes a data set that provides information on components, materials, chemical substances, repairability and disposal. This information should be accessible via technologies such as QR codes and blockchain. The benefits of the DPP range from improving supply chain management to supporting sustainable business models and encouraging innovative approaches. The DPP can create new markets for repaired or recycled products and promote the transformation to a circular economy.

In summary, the Digital Product Passport is a central tool for achieving a circular economy in Europe, promoting transparency, efficiency and innovation. The need for a circular economy is more important than ever due to critical raw materials and uncertain raw material supplies.