IOTA Introduces Digital Product Passports for Electronics
The
IOTA
Foundation
has
launched
a
new
Digital
Product
Passport
(DPP)
prototype
aimed
at
revolutionizing
the
electronics
industry
by
providing
a
transparent
and
traceable
record
of
electronic
devices
from
manufacturing
to
recycling,
according
to
the
IOTA
Foundation
Blog.
Enhancing
Recycling
with
IOTA
Technology
As
part
of
the
European
Commission-funded
European
Blockchain
Pre-Commercial
Procurement,
IOTA
has
developed
two
pre-commercial
applications
for
DPPs,
focusing
on
different
circular
economy
scenarios.
The
objective
is
to
leverage
blockchain
technology
for
data
traceability
and
auditability
in
the
electronics
sector.
The
prototype
ensures
data
integrity,
regulatory
compliance,
and
supports
sustainable
recycling
practices.
The
European
Union
has
proposed
a
digital
product
passport
as
a
vital
component
of
its
sustainability
and
circularity
initiatives.
This
tool
aims
to
help
businesses,
authorities,
and
consumers
share
and
access
product-related
information
more
transparently
and
efficiently.
Why
Electronics
Need
a
Passport
Digital
Product
Passports
ensure
transparency
and
traceability
throughout
the
lifecycle
of
electronic
devices,
including
batteries.
The
lifecycle
stages
typically
include:
-
Raw
Material
Acquisition:
Raw
and
secondary
materials
are
used
to
create
parts. -
Production:
Parts
are
assembled
into
devices,
each
with
a
unique
identifier
and
comprehensive
information
sheets. -
Use:
Devices
may
be
repaired,
upgraded,
reassigned,
disposed
of,
or
transferred
to
new
owners. -
End-of-Life
Treatment:
Devices
are
dismantled
for
parts,
recycled,
or
disposed
of
in
landfills.
Each
stage
is
linked
to
documents
that
authenticate
and
record
events,
enhancing
the
accountability
and
verifiability
of
these
processes.
Electronics
Digital
Product
Passport
Solution
Prototype
Developed
in
collaboration
with
the
Technical
University
of
Catalonia
and
eReuse,
the
prototype
uses
IOTA
Smart
Contracts
to
capture
crucial
data
about
electronic
goods.
The
DPP
tracks
the
lifecycle
of
electronic
devices
from
manufacturing
to
recycling.
The
DPP
covers
various
product
types,
focusing
on
unique
electronic
and
ICT
products.
The
Journey
of
an
Electronic
Device’s
DPP
A
fictional
narrative
illustrates
the
journey
of
an
electronic
device
through
the
Digital
Product
Passport
system:
-
Manufacturing:
A
manufacturer,
TechMakers
Inc.,
produces
laptops,
each
assigned
a
unique
Chassis
ID
and
Product
Hardware
ID.
Using
the
DeviceHub
application,
a
DPP
is
created
for
each
laptop,
capturing
comprehensive
details.
This
data
is
notarized
on
the
IOTA
Layer
2
Smart
Contract
Chain. -
Distribution:
DistribuTronics,
a
distribution
company,
records
proof
of
purchase
and
invoices
into
the
DPP
system,
updating
essential
distribution
details
via
DeviceHub. -
Retail:
ElectroMart,
a
retail
chain,
enables
consumers
to
access
their
device’s
DPP
using
a
QR
code.
Consumers
can
view
detailed
information
about
their
device
through
the
DPP
Viewer
webpage. -
Maintenance
and
Refurbishment:
Repair
services
like
FixItTech
update
the
DPP
to
reflect
new
configurations.
Refurbishment
companies
like
RenewElectro
issue
new
DPPs
for
upgraded
devices. -
Recycling:
EcoRecycle
processes
laptops
at
the
end
of
their
life,
marking
them
as
e-waste
and
recording
proof
of
recycling
on
the
blockchain.
The
DPP
Search
Engine
allows
verifiers
to
confirm
the
recycling
proof.
Ensuring
Trust
and
Transparency
An
auditing
firm,
GreenCert
Auditors,
verifies
the
recycling
proofs,
ensuring
the
authenticity
and
integrity
of
the
recycling
data.
The
entire
DPP
system
leverages
IOTA’s
distributed
ledger
technology
(DLT)
to
ensure
that
all
device-related
data
is
notarized,
immutable,
and
verifiable.
The
Electronics
DPP
solution
prototype
represents
a
groundbreaking
approach
to
managing
the
lifecycle
of
electronic
devices,
promoting
accountability
and
responsible
repair,
reuse,
and
recycling
practices
for
a
more
circular
economy.
Image
source:
Shutterstock
Comments are closed.