Definition of Standardized Digital Product Passport: A Use Case to Make Solar Panels More Sustainable

The paper discusses the concept of Digital Product Passport (DPP) within the context of the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, and attempts to align both the content of the DPP and the technology needed to support it with the initiatives proposed from Europe in digital and sustainable domains. The DPP aims to provide sustainable information about products, empowering informed decisions, facilitating repairs and recycling, and increasing transparency about a product’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle. The paper proposes the alignment of the DPP content with the new Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and a digital approach based on standardization and interoperability, utilizing technologies like Asset Administration Shell (AAS) to support the DPP. A use case focusing on managing the end-of-life treatment of solar panels is presented, demonstrating how the application of the proposed DPP allows the information flow along their life cycle and enhances their end-of-life management. The research aims to fill gaps in previous studies by aligning DPP content with eco-design strategies and developing an interoperable digital solution to support the DPP concept at a European level and based on standards.