Tech@Lunch - Information systems in the circular economy: the case of product passports

Tech@Lunch: with this online formula, we frequently offer an inspiring online session during lunch. During these sessions, one of our specialists will elaborate on a hot topic in half an hour. This way, you get a maximum of inspiration in a minimum of time! During our sixth session on Monday 7 November, Karel Van Acker will take the floor. The topic of his talk is "Information systems in the circular economy: the case of product passports".

With the circular economy action plan of the EC came the idea of introducing “digital product passports” (DPP). DPP will “enable products to be tagged, identified and linked to data relevant to their circularity and sustainability” and will be “the norm for all products regulated under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation”, according to the communication of the EC. Such clear, structured, and accessible information on the environmental sustainability characteristics of products should or could empower businesses and consumers to make better choices and improve the communication between actors along value chains.
 
However, little is yet known about DPPs. How far are we with the introduction and how should DPPs look like? And what benefits and drawbacks can we expect for companies? Can/should a company prepare for the introduction of DPPs? In this presentation we try to answer these questions and will dive deeper into the concept of DPPs, its relation to the circular economy, and how it frames in the broader need for data and information systems to support the circular economy and sustainability.