A Milestone Event for Digital Product Passports in Europe
The CircThread project culminated in a high-level conference held in Brussels, bringing together over 100 participants from across Europe to discuss how Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are unlocking new pathways toward a circular, transparent, and data-driven economy. Entitled “Unlocking Product Information Exchange Ecosystems Using Digital Product Passports”, the event marked the final dissemination milestone of the four-year Horizon 2020 project, showcasing key outcomes, tools, and policy recommendations.
Insights from Key Stakeholders Across Sectors
The conference offered a timely platform to present how DPPs, as developed and piloted through CircThread, can enable the implementation of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The event featured a diverse set of voices—from policymakers and regulators to industry leaders, recyclers, digital solution providers, and consumer advocates—all highlighting the urgency and opportunity for data interoperability in circular product systems.
Keynote speakers included representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, who emphasised DPPs as a foundational element of Europe’s green and digital transitions. Their remarks reinforced the policy momentum behind ESPR and stressed the need for actionable data infrastructures to support sustainable product design, extended producer responsibility, and end-of-life management.
Throughout the day, panel discussions explored how the exchange of product information can drive more efficient repair, reuse, recycling, and material recovery processes. Real-world insights from CircThread pilots were presented, demonstrating how DPPs have been tested in various sectors, including white goods, construction products, and batteries. Project partners shared challenges and lessons learned related to system integration, data quality, and user experience—offering valuable guidance for future implementers.
Launch of CircThread Policy Briefs to Guide Regulation and Practice
A key highlight of the event was the formal presentation of CircThread’s policy briefs. These documents translate technical outputs into concrete recommendations addressing eco-design, traceability for recycling, data contracts, and consumer empowerment. Introduced in a dedicated policy session, the briefs were developed to inform decision-makers at both the EU and national levels, providing clarity on how to operationalise key regulatory provisions through digital means.
Circular Intelligence Association
The event also showcased the launch of the Circular Intelligence Association, a new legal entity that will carry forward the vision and tools of CircThread beyond the project’s conclusion. The Association aims to maintain stakeholder collaboration, promote standardisation, and support the deployment of DPPs across Europe, offering a long-term governance framework for digital circularity.
Participants expressed strong interest in continuing the dialogue and collaboration initiated by CircThread. Several speakers emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and advocated for alignment between industry needs, regulatory objectives, and technological advancements. The event closed with a shared recognition that while the foundation has been laid, sustained coordination and investment will be essential to scale DPP adoption and unlock the full potential of the circular economy.
CircThread’s final conference confirmed its place as a flagship project helping shape the digital backbone of Europe’s sustainable product future—one where trusted, accessible data empowers informed decisions, drives innovation, and ensures that products are designed and managed with circularity at their core.
