The EU Digital product passport

KEA and FORCE lead the project.

The EU Digital Product Passport project aimed to prepare Danish lifestyle companies for future requirements regarding transparency and traceability in the product supply chain. Through the use of technologies such as blockchain and IoT, the project has created a platform for the development of digital product passports that can support circular business models and contribute to the green transition. The project has brought together companies, researchers, and students in a joint effort to make future digital requirements understandable and practically applicable.

Insights from the Researchers Behind the Project Jesper Thisted Larsen, a lecturer at KEA – Copenhagen Business Academy, has worked through the project to increase companies' understanding of digital product passports. Through workshops and individual meetings, he has particularly focused on the supply chain and communication with suppliers. Jesper highlights that there are significant communication challenges in conveying the complex requirements of digital product passport data to suppliers and that a targeted effort is needed to bring them into the process. KEA has also examined consumer reactions to digital product passports by collecting feedback from over 200 individuals who tested three prototypes. The studies revealed a strong interest and curiosity about the concept but also that complex data creates confusion among consumers. Many requested a more accessible evaluation system, such as a "smiley scheme," to interpret sustainability data more easily.

Meiken Hansen, PhD, and Emilie Möllenbach from FORCE Technology have investigated how digital product passports impact Danish textile companies. They have analysed relevant software platforms and put the requirements for digital product passports into perspective concerning existing systems already used by businesses. They have also worked closely with companies to evaluate the Trust Trace data protocol and identify barriers to implementation. Furthermore, they have developed a dialogue tool and informative materials to help businesses prepare for the EU product passport requirements. Through the project, FORCE Technology has gained a deeper understanding of the textile industry's practices and the challenges companies face in production and data management. This insight enables better support for businesses in the future.

Project Outcomes
The project has yielded concrete results demonstrating the potential of collaboration between technology and businesses. A total of 14 companies have participated in case studies where they worked on integrating digital product passports into their business models. Three of these companies have further tested digital product passports in collaboration with KEA students, providing valuable experiences and end-user insights. Additionally, a dialogue tool has been developed to help companies navigate the complex requirements and opportunities that come with implementing digital product passports.

The project has demonstrated how technology can drive sustainable development and has paved the way for Danish companies to be frontrunners in implementing the EU’s digital product passport.

Knowledge for Your Business
To conclude the EU Digital Product Passport project, a webinar titled "Digital Product Passport – Results, Insights, and the Road Ahead" was held. Over 160 participants from the fashion and furniture industries, research communities, and the technology sector attended, highlighting the significant interest in the topic. The webinar provided insights into the project's results, experiences from businesses and students, and practical advice on implementing digital product passports.

You can access the recording here: Webinar 11 Nov – Data to Business

Programme – Project Insights and the Industry’s Future
The webinar began with a presentation from a representative of the Danish Business Authority, emphasising the importance of funding for initiatives like this project. The presentation provided a status update on the EU Digital Product Passport and its significance for the industry.

Jesper Thisted Larsen from KEA and Emilie Möllenbach/Meiken Hansen from FORCE Technology then presented experiences from the project's 14 case studies. These cases illustrated how companies in the fashion and furniture industries have worked to implement digital product passports. They also shared practical advice for businesses looking to take the first steps towards adopting the technology.

A key part of the programme featured experiences from companies that had received feedback on their digital product passport prototypes from KEA students. Students also presented results from end-user tests, sharing insights into market readiness and expectations for digital product passports.

Nordic Success Stories and Practical Examples
In the webinar’s concluding section, inspiring cases from Nordic partners were presented. Holzweiler, a Nordic fashion brand, shared their experiences working with digital product passports, while Vestre, a leading furniture company, demonstrated how data from product passports can create new business opportunities. Johanson Design provided insights into APPEND, a case study on digital product passports in the Swedish furniture industry.

Practical Support for Businesses
The Lifestyle & Design Cluster concluded the webinar by highlighting how businesses can receive support to get started with digital product passports, both locally through SMV-grøn, nationally via KEA, FORCE, and DM&T, and through Data à Business, a Nordic Interreg-funded project.