Emerging digital product passport initiatives require improved data structuring to support life cycle assessment

Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 30, pp. 2131–2139

Abstract

Abstract Persistent data gaps limit the quality of life cycle assessments (LCAs), which frequently rely on incomplete, outdated, or non-comparable process data. Digital product passports (DPPs), initially developed for supply chain traceability, regulatory compliance, and circular economy objectives, also hold potential to address long-standing data challenges in LCA. Based on 20 selected, publicly documented DPP initiatives assessed as of April 2025, this Comment examines how emerging DPP practices structure information relevant to LCA. These initiatives indicate that core attributes, including material composition, recycled content, hazardous substances, and product carbon footprints, are now common and could provide a basis for improved LCA practice. However, contextual quantitative and qualitative data needed for representative life cycle inventories (LCIs) and methodologically consistent LCAs remain limited, particularly for production characteristics, energy use, end-of-life (EoL) parameters, and data-quality metadata. To enhance the utility of DPPs for LCA, future developments should prioritise the inclusion of disaggregated LCI data and the integration of EoL information as scenario input. Embedding established LCA principles in DPP architectures would support consistency, scalability, and transparency, helping transform DPPs from static compliance tools into dynamic infrastructures for actionable sustainability assessment.

Authors 13

1. Yanan Liang corresponding Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. José M. Mogollón Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Sónia Cunha Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Franco Donati Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Chen Li Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University · Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Department Circularity and Sustainability Impact, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, 3508 TA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

6. Berend Mintjes Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

7. René Kleijn Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

8. Daniel Monfort

   Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières

   Affiliation as printed

   BRGM, 45060, Orléans, France

9. Ranran Wang Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University · Nanjing University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for the Environment and Health, Nanjing University Suzhou Campus, Suzhou, 215163, China

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

   State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

10. Stephanie Marek Muller

    Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières

    Affiliation as printed

    BRGM, 45060, Orléans, France

11. Aina Mas-Fons

    Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières

    Affiliation as printed

    BRGM, 45060, Orléans, France

12. Brenda Miranda Xicotencatl Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

13. Ioan-Robert Istrate Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands