MC2- Circular Economy and Digital Product Passports

Introduces Digital Product Passports as tools for transparency and circularity across product lifecycles.

Credits

8 ECTS

Semester

1 Semester

Delivery

Online

Duration

13 weeks

Language

English

About This Course

This is a first-semester course in the MBA in Digital Deep Tech Driven Circular Economy
This course introduces Digital Product Passports as concrete tools for enabling transparency, traceability, and circularity across product lifecycles. It combines circular economy principles with digital technologies, lifecycle data, and EU regulatory frameworks to show how DPPs work in practice, not just in theory. Students explore real sector examples, governance and data ethics challenges, and the risks of greenwashing, while learning how to design and assess DPP systems that support compliance, credible sustainability claims, and informed decision-making in complex value chains.

What You Will Learn


Digital Product Passports and Regulation

  • Purpose and structure of Digital Product Passports (DPPs)
  • EU regulatory frameworks shaping DPP adoption
  • Compliance requirements for sustainable product ecosystems


Lifecycle Data and Product Traceability

  • Integrating Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) indicators into product data
  • Traceability across supply chains using digital technologies
  • Using lifecycle data to enable transparency and circular decision-making


Circular Economy Communication

  • Supporting sustainability claims with verified product data

  • Preventing greenwashing through transparent product information

  • Communicating circular value across stakeholders and markets

Your 13-Week Journey

Here’s how your learning unfolds

Week 1 – DPP Fundamentals

Introduction to Digital Product Passports, their regulatory context, core requirements, and design principles.

Week 2 – DPP Adoption Challenges

Exploring organisational, technical, and regulatory barriers, alongside opportunities for innovation and value creation.

Week 3 – Designing a DPP

Developing a Digital Product Passport using standards and methods illustrated through the textile sector.

Week 4 – LCA and DPP Integration

Embedding lifecycle assessment indicators into DPPs to support transparency and regulatory compliance.

Week 5 – Drivers and Barriers of DPP Development

Analysing sector-specific drivers and obstacles shaping DPP implementation across industries.

Week 6 – Extending DPPs to Product-Service Systems

Exploring how DPPs evolve into Digital Product Service System Passports through PSS concepts.

Week 7 – DPPs in Circular Value Chains

Understanding DPPs as tools for lifecycle tracking, interoperability, and collaboration in circular systems.

Week 8 – Product Traceability Technologies

Applying RFID, IoT, and blockchain to validate and structure product information across supply chains.

Week 9 – DPPs and EU Regulatory Compliance

Examining EU policy frameworks and aligning DPP design with legal and regulatory requirements.

Week 10 – Communicating Circularity and Green Claims

Using DPPs to support credible sustainability communication and mitigate greenwashing risks.

Week 11 – DPPs in Practice

Reviewing real-world DPP solutions, data flows, and stakeholder collaboration models.

Week 12 – Blockchain-Based DPP Implementation

Assessing blockchain as an implementation option and its suitability for specific DPP use cases.

Week 13 – Trust Mechanisms for the Circular Economy

Building trust in DPP ecosystems through technical and organisational data-sharing mechanisms.


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Skills You Will Gain

Strategic & Analytical Capabilities

  • Data-driven circular strategy design
  • Evaluation of DPP adoption drivers and barriers
  • Lifecycle and supply-chain performance analysis

Digital & Governance Competence

  • Digital governance and DPP compliance
  • Product data architecture and traceability systems
  • Circular readiness assessment tools

Leadership & Innovation Capacity

  • Strategic management of circular transitions
  • Evidence-based sustainability communication
  • Collaborative innovation across circular value chains

Continue Your Journey