GS1 and TNO are entering into a new partnership in the Centre of Excellence for Digital Product Passports (CoE-DPP). This is an important step for the development and implementation of Digital Product Passports in the Netherlands and beyond.
According to the European Green Deal and the European Commission’s circular economy action plans, Digital Product Passports (DPPs) must be introduced from 2027 onwards to improve the traceability, sustainability, and recyclability of products. This regulation supports the EU’s broader objectives of becoming climate neutral by 2050 and establishing a circular economy.
DPP for circular business models
A DPP is a digital document containing detailed information about a product, such as its composition, origin, production methods, and environmental impact throughout its life cycle. The purpose of a DPP is to provide insight into a product and ensure that relevant information is available to consumers, businesses, reuse & repair services, and sorters & recyclers. This reduces waste and preserves raw materials. The CoE-DPP combines these developments.
The leading hub
The ambition of the CoE-DPP is to be the leading hub for the development, standardisation, and implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPP) in the Netherlands, with strong links to Europe. By pooling and unlocking the expertise and resources of its participants, the CoE-DPP accelerates the adoption of DPPs and promotes innovation and interoperability of systems.
The CoE-DPP is the driving force in the development of the DPP landscape
By combining the collaboration of two independent and leading organisations, the CoE-DPP aims to help accelerate the implementation of DPPs. The joint goal is to provide direction in the fragmented knowledge landscape surrounding DPPs in the Netherlands and to structure it into three activity clusters:
- Putting DPP into practice – realisation and testing of applications
- Cross-sectoral coordination – ensuring standardisation and harmonisation across sectors
- Sharing knowledge for adoption – making DPP insights and best practices accessible to all relevant parties
TNO for coordination
TNO, known for its expertise in European and Dutch developments in the field of DPPs through projects such as CIRPASS2, DaCapo, AI MATTERS, and NextGen HighTech, plays a crucial role in the CoE-DPP in the coordination and standardisation of DPPs. “This collaboration allows us to pool our knowledge and resources, which is crucial for the proper development and use of DPPs in the Netherlands and Europe,” says Sjoerd Rongen of TNO/CoE-DPP.
GS1: a leader in standardisation
With its extensive knowledge and experience in identification systems, barcodes/QR codes, and product data, GS1, as a not-for-profit organisation, can make a valuable contribution to the national and international standardisation of data for DPPs. “GS1 is involved in projects such as Shopping Tomorrow, the NEN standardisation project, and a number of the same groups as TNO that advise the EU on DPPs. This makes collaboration in the CoE-DPP a logical next step and enables us to provide even better support to our member companies,” says Loek Boortman of GS1.
Open to new collaborations
The Centre of Excellence for Digital Product Passports, part of the Centre of Excellence for Data Sharing & Cloud (CoE-DSC), is open to new collaborations and invites other organisations to join this innovative and transformative journey.
