Digital Product Passports Can Integrate Absolute Environmental and Social Sustainability Metrics

Why It Matters

This approach moves beyond relative sustainability claims by incorporating objective measures of environmental impact and social well-being. By providing a holistic view across the product lifecycle, DPPs can empower stakeholders to make more informed choices that genuinely contribute to planetary health and social equity.

Key Finding

The study proposes that Digital Product Passports should include specific social impact metrics and objective environmental data tied to planetary limits, managed through a connected system, to drive sustainable practices in line with Industry 5.0 goals.

Key Findings

• Social indicators derived from social life cycle assessment can be integrated into DPPs.
• Absolute environmental sustainability assessment requires incorporating planetary boundaries and impact thresholds into DPPs.
• A cyber-physical system framework can facilitate the dynamic updating of DPP information throughout a product's lifecycle.

Research Evidence

Aim: How can Digital Product Passports be developed to holistically integrate absolute environmental sustainability, considering planetary boundaries, and social sustainability indicators to support the transition to Industry 5.0?

Method: Conceptual Framework Development and Literature Review

Procedure: The research reviews social life cycle assessment methodologies to propose relevant social indicators for DPPs. It also examines life cycle assessment and the Planetary Boundaries framework to define absolute environmental sustainability indicators and thresholds. Finally, a cyber-physical system framework is conceived for populating DPPs throughout a product's lifecycle.

Context: Product lifecycle management, industrial sustainability, digital transformation

Design Principle

Holistic Sustainability Integration: Design products and their associated information systems to transparently track and communicate both absolute environmental impact relative to planetary boundaries and social well-being throughout the entire lifecycle.

How to Apply

When developing product documentation or digital platforms, research and integrate metrics that directly address planetary boundaries (e.g., carbon budget, water stress) and social impact (e.g., fair labor, community impact) rather than relying solely on relative comparisons.

Limitations

The proposed framework is conceptual and requires empirical validation and standardization for widespread adoption. The practical implementation of a cyber-physical system for DPPs presents significant technical and logistical challenges.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Digital product passports can be made much better by adding specific scores for how good a product is for people and the planet, not just comparing it to other products. This helps us move towards a future where industry cares more about people and the environment.

Why This Matters: Understanding how to measure and communicate absolute sustainability is crucial for designing products that genuinely contribute to a healthier planet and society, moving beyond greenwashing.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can the proposed framework for absolute sustainability in Digital Product Passports be practically implemented by small and medium-sized enterprises with limited resources?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights the necessity of evolving digital product passports beyond relative comparisons to incorporate absolute sustainability metrics, such as adherence to planetary boundaries, and comprehensive social indicators. This holistic approach is vital for informed decision-making and the transition towards more responsible industrial practices.

Project Tips

• When researching a product, look for data related to its environmental footprint (e.g., CO2 emissions, water usage) and social impact (e.g., labor conditions, material sourcing).
• Consider how this information could be presented in a digital format, like a product passport, to inform users and manufacturers.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this paper when discussing the limitations of current product sustainability reporting and proposing enhanced methods for data collection and presentation in your design project.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between relative and absolute sustainability metrics and their implications for design decisions.

Independent Variable: ["Integration of social indicators","Inclusion of absolute environmental metrics (Planetary Boundaries)","Cyber-physical system framework for DPP population"]

Dependent Variable: ["Holistic sustainability assessment of products","Facilitation of Industry 5.0 transition","Informed decision-making across value chains"]

Strengths

• Addresses a critical gap in current Digital Product Passport research by focusing on absolute sustainability.
• Proposes a comprehensive framework integrating environmental and social dimensions.
• Connects product sustainability to the broader goals of Industry 5.0.

Critical Questions

• What are the primary challenges in standardizing and verifying absolute environmental and social data for global product passports?
• How can the proposed cyber-physical system be designed to ensure data security and integrity throughout a product's lifecycle?

Extended Essay Application

• An Extended Essay could explore the development of a specific set of absolute environmental or social indicators for a particular product category and propose a method for their integration into a digital passport.

Source

Integrating Absolute Sustainability and Social Sustainability in the Digital Product Passport to Promote Industry 5.0 · Sustainability · 2023 · 10.3390/su151612552