From data to impact: Digital Product Information Systems and the importance of traceability for global environmental governance

Summary

This discussion focused on the development and implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and Digital Product Information Systems as tools to enable circular economy and environmental sustainability. Fabienne Pierre from ITU presented the technical framework, explaining that DPPs are structured collections of product-specific data conveyed through unique identifiers like QR codes, containing information about materials, design, maintenance instructions, and environmental impact throughout a product’s lifecycle. The initiative involves collaboration between ITU, ETSI, UNEP, and the One Planet Network to create global standards that will initially be implemented in Europe but will affect supply chains worldwide.

The panel discussion, moderated by Yolanda Martinez from the World Bank, featured representatives from various organizations sharing their implementation strategies. Francesca Cenni from the Basel Convention Secretariat described a pilot project in Uruguay testing DPPs for hazardous waste lead-acid batteries to improve traceability and support Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Maria Teresa Pisani from UNECE outlined their work on traceability and transparency standards, including Recommendation 49 on supply chain interoperability and the UN Transparency Protocol. Hoda Shakra from Egypt’s Ministry of Communications presented their national progress, including new safety standards, digital platforms for risk-based inspection, and plans to integrate DPPs into e-waste management systems and circular economy policies.

Thomas Ebert from the European Commission explained that Europe’s DPP system will become mandatory for batteries in 2027, expanding to other product groups like textiles and steel, emphasizing the importance of open standards and interoperability. The discussion highlighted the need for global coordination, pilot testing across diverse sectors, and the development of both technical infrastructure and supportive policies to enable widespread adoption of digital product information systems.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **Digital Product Passport (DPP) Framework Development**: The discussion centers on ITU’s collaboration with ETSI and other organizations to develop global standards for digital product passports – structured collections of product-specific data accessible through unique identifiers like QR codes. These passports will contain information about materials, design, maintenance, repair instructions, and environmental impact to support circular economy initiatives.

– **Multi-Stakeholder Implementation and Pilot Projects**: Various organizations are conducting concrete pilot projects to test DPP frameworks, including the Basel Convention’s work on waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay, UNECE’s textile industry traceability initiatives, and the EU’s Surpass 2 project covering multiple product categories like tires and washing machines.

– **Global Coordination and Standardization Challenges**: The need for harmonized international standards and interoperability across different digital product information systems is emphasized, with discussions about data categories, accessibility, technology openness, and preventing vendor lock-in while ensuring global supply chain compatibility.

– **National Implementation Strategies**: Country-level adoption approaches are shared, particularly Egypt’s progress in establishing DPP-enabling infrastructure through new standards (ES2501), digital platforms for risk-based inspection, and integration with e-waste management and circular economy policies.

– **Technical and Policy Integration**: The importance of separating technical DPP system requirements (standards and interoperability) from product-specific data requirements, while ensuring alignment between circular economy policies and digital infrastructure development across different government ministries and stakeholders.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion aims to promote global collaboration in developing a unified framework for digital product information systems that will support circular economy initiatives, enhance product traceability, and enable informed decision-making by consumers, manufacturers, and regulators across international supply chains.

## Overall Tone:

The discussion maintains a collaborative and optimistic tone throughout, with speakers demonstrating enthusiasm for cross-organizational cooperation and knowledge sharing. The tone is professional and forward-looking, with participants actively offering concrete examples of their work and expressing genuine interest in coordinating efforts. There’s a sense of urgency balanced with pragmatic acknowledgment of the complexity involved in global standardization, and the moderator successfully maintains momentum while encouraging practical next steps and continued collaboration.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **Fabienne Pierre**: Provided presentation on digital product information systems and digital product passports; works with ITU (International Telecommunication Union)

– **Yolanda Martinez**: Panel discussion moderator; represents the World Bank

– **Francesca Cenni**: Represents the Basel Convention Secretariat (Basel Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Secretariat); works on hazardous waste management and e-waste regulations

– **Maria Teresa Pisani**: In charge of the trade facilitation section at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva; works on building fair and sustainable trade systems

– **Hoda Shakra**: Expert for industry and external relations at Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt; also works as advisor for E-waste management for Ministry of Environment in Egypt; co-rapporteur for Q75 at ITU-T

– **Thomas Ebert**: Policy analyst in the DigiConnect initiative from the European Commission; comes from the German Environment Agency and is seconded to the Commission; works on bridging digital and environmental worlds

**Additional speakers:**

– **Bilel**: Deputy Director (mentioned as having given an earlier speech about collaboration, but did not speak in this transcript)

– **Reyna** (likely Reyna Ubeda): From ITU, mentioned at the end for closing remarks but did not speak in this transcript portion

# Digital Product Passports for Circular Economy: Discussion Report

## Executive Summary

This discussion focused on the development and implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and Digital Product Information Systems as tools for enabling circular economy practices and environmental sustainability. The session featured a technical presentation by Fabienne Pierre from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), followed by a panel discussion moderated by Yolanda Martinez from the World Bank. Panelists included representatives from the Basel Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Secretariat, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the European Commission.

The discussion highlighted ongoing efforts across multiple organizations to develop interoperable, standardized digital product passport systems through pilot implementations across various sectors and regions. Speakers shared their organizations’ approaches to technical requirements, implementation strategies, and environmental objectives.

## ITU’s Global Framework Initiative

Fabienne Pierre presented the ITU’s comprehensive approach to developing digital product passports, describing them as “structured collections of product-specific data conveyed through unique identifiers” such as QR codes. These passports contain information about materials, design, maintenance instructions, repair guidance, and environmental impact throughout a product’s lifecycle. The framework has been developed through collaboration between ITU, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the One Planet Network.

The ITU has established two key standards (L1070 and L1071) for digital product passports, focusing on ICT sector opportunities and sustainability information. Pierre emphasized that the framework requires agreed data categories, accessibility, interoperability, comparability, traceability, and technology openness across sectors. She noted that different stakeholders may require different levels of information access – consumers might receive environmental impact information while manufacturers could access more detailed technical data.

The global consultation process began with Latin America, with a consultation held in Brasilia involving 20 countries with participation from Ministry of Environment, Ministry of ICT, regulation, academia, and private sector representatives. Future consultations are planned for Africa, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe. Pierre extended an invitation for participation, stating “this initiative is open to all.”

## Panel Discussion

### Basel Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Secretariat

Francesca Cenni, representing the Basel Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Secretariat, explained that her organization serves three conventions: Basel (hazardous waste), Stockholm (persistent organic pollutants), and Rotterdam (chemical trade). She described a pilot project testing digital product passports for waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay, aimed at linking information about these hazardous products to importers who will take responsibility for their take-back and collection.

Cenni emphasized the connection between digital product passports and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, providing a detailed example of how a TV retailer would handle product take-back responsibilities. She also mentioned the organization’s involvement with the Partnership for Action on Challenges Relating to e-waste (PACE2) and referenced ITU standards L1070 and L1071.

### UNECE’s Interoperability Focus

Maria Teresa Pisani, in charge of the trade facilitation section at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and representing the UN Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, outlined UNECE’s focus on enabling interoperability of information exchange systems. She distinguished between traceability and transparency, explaining that while substantial data exists along value chains, “their availability is silenced.”

UNECE has adopted Recommendation 49 on transparency at scale and is developing the UN Transparency Protocol as an interoperability standard. This work is conducted through a joint technical committee with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to map global digital passport initiatives. Pisani mentioned practical pilots including collaboration with the World Bank for the cotton sector in Uzbekistan, with an estimated timeline from the third quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026.

### Egypt’s National Implementation Strategy

Hoda Shakra, expert for industry and external relations in Egypt’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and advisor for e-waste management for the Ministry of Environment, presented Egypt’s comprehensive national approach. She also serves as co-rapporteur for Q75 at ITU-T. Egypt has issued ministerial decree ES2501 for electrical and electronic devices based on international benchmark IEC 62368.

Egypt’s implementation strategy includes multiple initiatives: a COICA-funded digital platforms project starting from mid-2025 and lasting until the end of 2029, an e-manufacturing pilot with RFID integration, and work with GS1 Egypt on platforms MyGS1EG and OneTrace. Shakra explained that Egypt is developing a circular economy policy covering eight sectors, including ICT, and plans to embed Digital Product Information systems as part of the national strategy.

### European Commission’s Regulatory Approach

Thomas Ebert, from the German Environment Agency and seconded to the European Commission’s DigiConnect, explained that Europe’s digital product passport system will become mandatory through the Eco-Design for Sustainable Product Regulation. Implementation begins with batteries over two kilowatt hours in 2027 and will expand to other product groups including textiles and steel.

Ebert emphasized the importance of open standards and interoperability to prevent vendor lock-in, working with SENSENELEC as the European Standardization Organizations. The European Commission operates the Surpass 2 project, which includes 13 pilots across different product groups such as tires and washing machines, investigating how digital product passports can enable circular business models.

## Implementation Strategies and Coordination

### Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

The discussion revealed extensive collaboration across international organizations. ITU participates in the Impact Initiative Digitalization for Circular Economy launched by One Planet Network and UNEP. The World Bank’s role, as articulated by moderator Yolanda Martinez, involves supporting efforts through financing projects and standardization that informs operational design with countries.

### Technical Standards and Interoperability

All speakers emphasized the importance of interoperability and standardization, though they proposed different approaches. ITU focuses on developing standards through collaboration with ETSI and creating a global framework through regional consultations. UNECE emphasizes the UN Transparency Protocol and joint work with ISO. The European Commission stresses open standards while implementing mandatory systems through regulation.

### Pilot Projects and Testing

Multiple organizations are conducting pilot projects to test digital product passport implementations:

– Basel Convention’s hazardous waste batteries pilot in Uruguay

– UNECE’s cotton sector pilot in Uzbekistan with the World Bank

– European Commission’s Surpass 2 project with 13 different product group pilots

– Egypt’s e-manufacturing pilot with RFID integration

## Moderator’s Guidance and Future Directions

Yolanda Martinez from the World Bank emphasized the importance of piloting and iteration, suggesting that organizations leverage open source approaches and GovStack initiatives to accelerate adoption, particularly for Global South countries. She encouraged active sharing of progress rather than waiting for formal reporting opportunities.

The discussion identified several immediate next steps:

– Continuing global consultations with upcoming phases targeting Africa, then Asia-Pacific and Europe

– Advancing pilot projects across different sectors and regions

– Integrating DPI systems into e-waste management technical regulations and Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks

– Promoting the framework in high-level political forums including the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)

## Conclusion

The discussion demonstrated ongoing collaborative efforts to develop global digital product passport systems that support circular economy objectives. Multiple organizations are pursuing parallel approaches to technical standards, pilot implementations, and policy integration. The emphasis on pilot projects, iterative development, and knowledge sharing provides a foundation for advancing digital product passport systems globally while addressing challenges of interoperability, implementation costs, and diverse stakeholder needs.

Success will depend on continued coordination across organizations, effective alignment of different technical approaches, and sustained commitment to inclusive development that enables participation from countries at various development levels.

Fabienne Pierre: Allow me to provide you a brief presentation on what we are doing on this digital product information system. So, what are digital product passports? Digital product passports are, according to ITU definition, a structured collection of product-specific data conveyed through a unique identifier. Right now, ITU, in collaboration with ETSI, ETSI is the European Telecommunications Standardization Institute, has developed two standards. One standard is on the opportunities of the digital product passport for the ICT sector, and the second one is on the information and sustainability on circularity. It provides a structured collection of information items organized to represent circularity and environmental sustainability information in accordance with relevant standards of ICT products of various actors during the lifespan, up to the recycling. Which are the beneficiary users? It facilitates the activities of product operators, for example, from manufacturers, buyers, owners, repairers, re-manufacturers, recyclers, national authorities, and auditors. It could also empower consumers with relevant information, because the idea is that when this is enforced, you can have, through an identifier, QR code information about the system. But it might vary to which one is the one that is using this information. If it’s a consumer, maybe you will not have all the details, but you will have the environmental impact that it has. If you are a manufacturer, maybe you will not have all the products, because also how we ensure this competitiveness between one manufacturer and the others, and what are you using? It is a very sensitive topic that they are discussing right now, and this discussion has started in Europe as part of their regulation. What is the information that it will contain? Well, it will contain relevant useful information on materials, design, use, maintenance and repair instructions, ways to recover and disassemble components and recycle them, equipment life. It will include also specification, programming, firmware and software. It will have special attention and needs to be done on raw materials, scarce, critical and secondary, adverse social and environmental risk due to the presence of hazardous substances. And you will hear a bit more about this because we have a colleague from the Basel Convention, the secretariat, that will explain a bit more about this and the importance. Our manufacturers provide monitoring, facilitating procurement proceedings, reverse logistic and facilitate extended producer responsibility. I’m not going to go in details what is inside of each of the standards. I invite you to take a look because of lack of time, I want to win a few minutes for the panel. But what is the desirable principles? The desirable principles is that the digital product passport can be usefulness, accuracy, inclusivity, transparent, accountable, that is also standardized and information privacy and information protection. Then we have the other standards, L1071, that also contains information on what the European Union digital product passport is and also the UNDP business-to-business data model and propose the data model for the ICT sector. The ongoing work that we are working is also how the digital product passport will look for the consumer and also for the reverse value chain. For example, for the refurbishment, how it will look, what kind of information they will need. So, this information will be in this standard to provide this guidance to the consumer and also the refurbishers. Now, we have talked, I think since we started with the speech from the Deputy Director Bilel, on the importance of collaboration. ITU, it’s part on the initiative, Impact Initiative Digitalization for Circular Economy that was launched by One Planet Network and UNEP. And there are several partners that are part of this initiative. And the mission is to facilitate the trajectory of digital transformation so that it accelerates and scales environmental and socially inclusive circular economy. There are multiple digital product information systems and we need to simplify for harmonizing information. So, there is a need for agreed data categories and subcategories, accessibility, interoperability, comparability, traceability and technology openness. As you can see here, there are several partners that are from different sectors mandate because the digital product passport is not going to be just for one specific sector. The idea it will be for textile, for construction, also for ICT. ICT, according to the European Commission, it will be the last one to do because of their difficulty that it is. I’m sorry if I’m talking too fast. But I’m trying to gain some time. So, how it will be developed? Co-development, building on existing standards, because one of the principles of this initiative is also to work together, but also on what we are already doing. Build consensus and do also pilot. Dr. Cristina Cardenas, Dr. Laura Cyron, Mr. Jean-Manuel Canet, Ms. Cristina Cardenas, Dr. What does that mean? What does that mean for the regulation? What does that mean? Which ministries is involved? Should be all ministries involved? So this part of awareness was part of the consultation because they know very little. And the purpose of this framework is that the discussion is not only in Europe. The purpose of this framework and this collaboration is that it’s global, it’s inclusive, that we can have the inputs from different stakeholders from the region because we need something that everyone can use. Because once the regulation is implemented in Europe, it will affect Latin America, it will affect Asia, it will affect Africa. So phase two, that is right now, we are going to start with some pilot testing and there is the draft of the framework, moving from technical to political conversation to get buy-in. So yesterday we had the first consultation of the framework in Latin America. There was the presence of 20 countries in Brasilia where they discussed, they learned the first time about this framework and they were from different sectors, from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of ICT, regulation, academia, private sector. So these consultations were done by One Planet Network and UNEP in collaboration with all the members of this initiative. And I cannot tell you I will not tell you what are the results because I haven’t received the news, but we will keep you posted. This first consultation will help us to set up the basis for the next regions. The next region will be Africa, then we are thinking about Asia and the Pacific and doing that one also for Europe. Phase 23 is the launch and promote adoption used on a voluntary basis by member states and stakeholders. It will be promoted in high-level political forums like UNEA, the High-Level Political Forum, UNGA, etc. The framework components, it will have categories and subcategories, governance, technical components, main functionalities, list of standards, incentives, and capacity. So, it will have some pilot projects. We will have, for example, in textile, test the framework in dual condition data categories, estimate the cost also for the implementation in the Global South, inform the development of national instruments, and the estimated timeline is the third quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026. So, we are calling for participation because this initiative is open to all. So, you can be engaging as ambassadors of this topic, providing feedback and technical input to the categories that are being selected. And please contact me. At the end of the presentation, you will have my contacts, so to stay in touch and discuss about this. So, why is also important the collaboration with other entities? And in this case, I’m representing ITU. And for us, we have a standard on the development that will be that the framework that they are developing, that is developing as open consultation, will be standardized in ITU. And this new work item was opened in June. It will have, the framework is sector agnostic, but this work will have a focus on the ICT sector. And so I invite you all to participate not only on the development of the framework, but also in the standard development, because this one will focus more on the ICT sector. So what are the potential global benefits? They can be linked and provide information on compliance with regulations and standards that can be digital verified. It benefits all stakeholders, reduce the burdens of making informed decisions to optimize and assess the sustainability of products. Discussion, consensus, standardization, and legislative processes can enable agreements to develop concrete and specific specification, including mandatory and voluntary values for countries. So right now we are discussing about this topic. So I invite you to start the discussion, to spread in the world, because I guess maybe not all of you have known about the digital product passport and what this will entail for the products. So thank you so much. And now I will give the floor. So this is very fast, you see. We are going to give the floor to our panel discussion. Allow me to introduce you, Ms. Yolanda Martinez. We’ll have, that is our moderator of the panel discussion on developing a global DPIs framework. Yolanda, the floor is yours, from the World Bank, sorry.

Yolanda Martinez: Thank you. This has been a very enlightening discussion and I very much congratulate ITU and all the partners in putting this effort together. And to follow on the previous panelists, I would like to use this segment to… I would like to invite ideas and very concrete proposals coming from the different speakers since they represent different organizations on how we can collectively promote the active participation in the co-design of the framework and I very much like the piloting phase, right? The best way to really make something use is when you iterate the approaches and I think having as active partner the World Bank, we can really support that because that’s what we do. We finance projects that are implemented in countries and standardization efforts inform how we design our operations with the countries and we’re very much looking forward to join this effort. So, I would like to start this conversation by introducing, giving the floor to each of the panelists. I will kindly ask everyone to introduce themselves, which organization they represent and how from the organization that they are coming from, they are envisioning to promote and support this effort. So, let me start with Francesca Ceni, she’s next to me and she represents the Basel Convention Secretariat. Over to you, Francesca.

Francesca Cenni: Thank you. Thank you for having invited me for this session. So, today I represent the Basel Convention Secretariat, but my entity joined other secretariats and now we are called also the Basel Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Secretariat. No, it’s fine. But it’s important to say that we serve three conventions and one is the Basel Convention is on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous and other wastes and the promotion of their good management and e-waste are included. The other conventions are on POPs, Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention is on trade of certain chemicals where the countries are. provide import responses, if they want to import or not, certain chemicals. And it is a pleasure to be here because it’s a long time we cooperate with the study group FIME and we have cooperated in the development of the L1070 to include information on hazardous chemicals and waste in the digital product passport and in the systems. So we have listed all the information that would be good for us to be there, so that when the producers, the users find this information, they see that this product is actually, when its waste is under the Basel Convention, it should be labeled with certain code and if it contains POPs, it is included, so it should be handled in a very, very specific way. And then we have moved forward because actually the ITU moved forward and included a lot of more information on reparability, on products that can be recycled and you can imagine this is very important in the management of e-waste because in fact the digital product passport was thought as a tool to bridge the gap when in a circular economy context, it is necessary to make a decision how, what can I recycle of this product when it becomes waste, what can I repair, where I find the the manual or very, very simple questions, but many stakeholders need these answers. And so this tool is there to answer the questions of many, many stakeholders at the same time. And so we also, in the Basel Convention, the parties decided to start a partnership on e-waste which is called Partnership for Action on Challenges Relating to e-waste, PACE2, and in the context of the work of this partnership, which is a public-private platform to resolve e-waste issues under the Basel Convention. We have thought to start a pilot to see if we could link the digital product passport or the digital information system on products to EPRs, to extend the producer responsibilities schemes. I don’t know if you know what they are, this very strange name, but in two words, the producers, the importers of an ICT product, take the responsibility of collecting it or taking it back when it becomes a waste. So it is like when you buy a TV, you can give it back to your retailers, to the shop where you have bought it. This is, in very few words, the scheme that supports the fact that the entity that sold you the product is now taking responsibility for the waste. And we are testing the passport for waste lead-acid batteries. Waste lead-acid batteries or lead-acid batteries are in cars, EVs, and in any types of cars and many servers and other products. These are very, very hazardous products. So we thought, perhaps you can try to link the information on these batteries to the importers, to those who then will take responsibility for their take-back, for their collection. And therefore, we will know, for example, the year of production, the producer, the original manufacturer of the battery. And we will know, for example, if BMW or another brand of car has imported that battery in a car or in a server, another entity, and they will have their responsibility to take it back and they will find information. Many stakeholders will find information on who’s responsible for that battery, where it should go, where it should be collected. And this is because we are looking for a tool to control the illegal traffic and the incorrect management of these batteries, because these are extremely polluting and hazardous for people who are working with them. This project is being tested in Uruguay, and so we are going through the first phases. We are now collecting the stakeholder list, trying to see if the producers would like to give the information to the government, and if the importers… would be happy to be in this pilot testing. So we are going through the first phases of the project of the pilot. And we hope in next sessions, we’ll give you more information on how it was, the difficulties, the steps that we had to take, the technologies used. And because of time, I don’t add more details, but there are lots of questions and lots of pilot testing involved.

Yolanda Martinez: No, but I think this is great. Thank you. Because that responds the question very precisely, you know, give concrete actions on how to invite others. And I think maybe a suggestion for the colleagues that is running this effort is that as pilots start to happen, I think we don’t need to wait until the next panel to know what is the progress, but proactively really share, you know, the use cases, who are the stakeholders, what is the stage of the pilot, some other countries that are thinking on moving forward, have a very concrete reference to look at. So congratulations on that. And now I would like to give the floor to Maria Teresa Pisani, my understanding that she’s remotely and she’s representing UNECE. So over to you, Teresa. And same question, like from the organization that you represent, what are the key actions that you can take to move forward the adoption of the framework?

Maria Teresa Pisani: Thank you very much, Yolanda, for the kind introduction. So I’m Maria Teresa Pisani. I’m in charge of the trade facilitation section at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, based in Geneva, here at Palais des Nations. And sorry not to be able to join you in person this afternoon for the session. And I would like to thank Ms. Reyna Ubeda from ITU. Thank you for the invitation to UNEC to contribute to this panel discussion. As mentioned, it will be about sharing the perspectives of UNEC, what it has been done so far, how our work is contributing to the standardization for digital passport, and also how we plan to join forces with all the organizations under this initiative to coordinate and to align. No one can really do it alone. Everybody, I would say, has specific expertise and mandates, so very important initiatives like this one that bring us together and support coordination and alignment. So very briefly, what do we do at UNEC in the trade facilitation section? We help member states, countries, really to build a fair and sustainable trade system. This is the core of our mandate, and a big part of this mandate is really about making sure that reliable sustainability information can travel with the products from the raw material to the consumer. So from the cotton field throughout the processing of a T-shirt to the branding and retailing of this T-shirt on market and the purchase of consumers, so really to make sure that the consumer can make an informed choice. Now we do that through a platform. We develop norms and standards at UNEC, and this work is particularly in the context of a work of an intergovernmental party, which is the UN Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, that does practical digital tools. Now, our work on sustainable trade and digital governance actually directly support this process and the global digital compact by offering tools that are very practical for advancing the traceability and transparency of value chains and interoperability of systems that allow the sharing of data all along the value chain for that traceability and transparency. Let me take a step back and clarify what do we mean by traceability and transparency. Traceability is really about knowing where the products come from and how they are made, whether these are in compliance with environmental, social, good governance requirements for the product. So, whether they are made without hazardous chemicals, whether they are made of leather that is not originating from deforested areas, for instance. And this is really traceability, really the foundation of trust in global markets. Transparency is when relevant information is made available to all actors that operate along the value chain in an harmonized way, but also to consumers and regulators. And this is really both elements. The traceability and transparency are critical to fight misleading claims, what is usually called the greenwashing, if you like. So, to ensure that we have reliable sustainability claims that support climate goals, that meet regulatory requirements, and also ensure access to markets, provide the right incentives to those operators along the value chains that do things right, that make the investment and the effort to, you know, undertake the sustainability journey and to comply with regulations and standards on this sustainability. We want to make sure that they are incentivized and they are rewarded for the effort they are making. So that’s why traceability, transparency are fundamental and are so important. We have been extensively working on this at UNEC with a toolbox that has policy recommendations and standards to enable traceability and transparency. We have started with the textile industry and we are moving gradually to a framework and an approach that is cross-industry, that is covering other critical sectors for the green and digital transition, like the minerals, the agri-food, but really to come up with information exchange standards and supporting instruments that are as much as possible sector agnostic and then with extensions that are sector specific. Now, let me share that just last week our intergovernmental body has adopted an important policy recommendation, is recommendation 49 on transparency at scale and for fostering sustainability in supply chains. And this recommendation has been focusing on another very important aspect. Great to have the traceability, great to have the transparency. A lot of data are available along the value chain. The problem is that their availability is silenced. So very important to work on interoperability of information exchange systems to ensure that actors along the value chain speak a common language and their information systems can connect and are interoperable. So that the data stay where they belong and we work on the exchange of this data through the interoperability of information exchange systems. So this is really what Recommendation 49 is about, is about enabling interoperability of information exchange systems for collection and sharing of data that will inform digital passports for products placed on market. So what Recommendation 49 aims at is really to establish trust in supply chain data, is really to reduce cost and complexity for supply chain actors, because all this has a cost, has complexity, so very important to work on principles and measures that can cut on this cost and complexity, especially for SMEs, especially for actors in emerging economies. And the aim is really to draw a vision where sustainable behaviour can become the norm. So the Recommendation, and you’re invited to have a look at this document that is available and happy to share with the participants, provides these high-level principles, provides a set of policy measures, but also provide, you know, the building blocks and the elements that supporting instruments need to, let’s say, consider and have, like architecture concepts, interoperability, requirements, aspects related to trust and conformity, to security and confidentiality, the business incentives and then the governance aspects. So this is for Recommendation 49, very briefly. UNEC is also working on supporting instruments to the implementation of this recommendation that is called the UN Transparency Protocol. This is an interoperability standards that has technical requirements and will have a component industry agnostic and components that are industry specific and there we are working on industry and business associations, multi-stakeholders to develop this industry extensions for textiles, for batteries, for agri-food products. Important to mention the collaboration with the ISO because ISO-UNEC have a joint technical committee for the standardization of electronic data exchange and under this committee a joint working group is looking at mapping out all the initiatives for digital passports that are let’s say emerging globally. EU is very advanced is a jurisdiction which is quite advanced because there is a normative mandatory regulation that will introduce digital passports for products placed on markets in the EU for specific product categories but China, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, United States and many other jurisdictions are working on this. So very important to map out these initiatives to identify common principles and to work on a framework that can ensure really alignment and interoperability. So this work that UNEC-UNCFACT is doing with ISO goes exactly in that direction. As final comments really we look very much forward to coordinating with all various UN organizations like ITU, UNEP. the UNIDO, World Bank here, and we have done quite some pilots as part of the previous work also with the World Bank on traceability and transparency with specific use cases for the cotton sector, for instance, in Uzbekistan. And really, we support and have the ambition of a UN-led initiative that works on standardization for digital product passports. Because the inclusivity and ensuring…

Yolanda Martinez: Sorry, Maria, just to, because we have two more people now, and I want to be respectful of the other colleagues for their intervention. Absolutely,

Maria Teresa Pisani: apologies. And just to finish, just to ensure that, you know, we have an inclusive initiative that brings on the table emerging economies and small actors as important contributors for this global framework. Thank you for allowing me some extra time. And over to you, Yolanda. Thank you so much.

Yolanda Martinez: No, thank you so much, Maria. And I think you also share a very important element that is key in terms of pilots, no? So together with Eurowide, the one that you’re working in textile, I think diversity of use cases, it’s relevant in this exercise and important to properly communicate the progress of each. And also looking for synergies to other initiatives like the DPI, say words, to really leverage the maturity of the countries. Eurowide has 100% of digital government services online, so that really facilitates any piloted initiative related to interoperability and traceability. So congrats on that. And now I would like to give the floor to Hoda Shakra, and she’s from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt. So very happy to have a government. and Representative, joining the discussion. And same questions in terms of what actions is Egypt taking in the process of exploring the adoption of this framework. Over to you.

Hoda Shakra: Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to be part of this session. I am Engineer Hoda Chakra. I am representing the government of Egypt. I am working as an expert for industry and external relation in Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. As well, I am working as an advisor for E-waste management for Ministry of Environment in Egypt. And I am co-rapporteur for Q75 at ITUT. OK, for the question, allow me to highlight the efforts of Egypt related to digital product information system. Egypt has been making progress in establishing enabling system for DBIs in alignment with the digital transformation strategy, while Egypt does not have yet a fully centralized or unified DBI system like those being developed in some European countries and East Asian countries. But there are several relevant initiatives and sectors are actively working toward this goal. For example, when it comes to standardization, on February 2025, the Minister of Trade and Industry issued ministerial decree to enforce the new Egyptian standard ES2501, which applies to electrical and electronic devices up to 600 volts with a six month transitional period. This standard is based on the international benchmark IEC 62368, which cover audio, video, ICT, and office equipment. This standard provides a uniform foundation for product safety labeling, helping integrate digital safety data into DBI system. Also, adoption of international standards also support compliance with. Eco-Design Policies, Product Durability and Standards, and Sustainable Trade Practices Key Components of Environmental Governance. When it comes to infrastructure and platform, the Egyptian General Organization for Export and Import Control, DOIC, started the implementation of a COICA-funded project on establishment of digital platforms for risk-based inspection and tracking for facilitating trade in Egypt. The project implementation started from the middle of 2025 and will last until the end of 2029. Through multiple components, including building and operating the digital system for the risk-based inspection system for non-food industrial goods, building and operating the digital information management system for all DOIC laboratories, in addition to building and operating the digital tracking and tracing system, and establishing the digital passport system for industrial products in the local market. Also, we have GS1 Egypt, which is part of the international GS1 group, operates national platforms like MyGS1EG, OneTrace, and both of them support the global identifiers essential for DPI and trade compliance. For pilot project, also we have e-manufacturing pilot, which is supported by the Ministry of Scientific Research. The e-manufacturing project integrates ERP systems with RFID to enable real-time data collection and decision-making on production line, and we have also Seiko technology, which is a leading Egyptian manufacturer of electronics, including mobile phones, tablets, and smart devices. Based in Upper Egypt, the company incorporates digital identifiers such as serial numbers and the globally recognized product code, laying the ground for seamless integration with DPI. This is what is in the ground and the different enable tools that can enable the adoption of DBI in Egypt and allow me to conclude my intervention by what’s next. What can be done by the Egyptian government to have a full adoption of DBI. We’re currently in Egypt as we are presented with a strategic and timely opportunity to integrate the DBI system into national environmental and digital information efforts where the country undertakes the development of new technical regulation policies and the management information system for the ICT sector and electronic waste. So there is a significant potential to embed DBI as a foundational component where Ministry of Environment is in the process of drafting the technical regulation for e-waste management and ICT-related waste stream and this provides an ideal policy window to encourage and incentivize private sector adoption of DBI system by recognizing them as tool for traceability, compliance and environmental responsibility. As well, Ministry of Environment will start in a few months in developing a management information system to track product flows and manage e-waste data and DBI can serve as a digital backbone for this system. Linking DBI with MIS ensures real-time product level visibility, improves data accuracy and enhances traceability of products from importation to end-of-life handling. As well, the government of Egypt is currently in the process of developing an EPR framework for electronic products and for sure, as you all know, we already adopted the EPR for one single The last point also, Egypt currently is working on the development of the circular economy policy for Egypt and it includes eight sectors and one of these sectors is the ICT sector and also it will be very good to include TPI, to embed it as part of the national strategy and the circular economy policy to enable better material tracking, reuse potential and eco-design incentives. Thank you.

Yolanda Martinez: Thank you so much for sharing your progress and I have the opportunity to know Egypt digital agenda very well as early adopter of the GovStack initiative so I think I’m so happy that you are currently working not only on the policy part but really on the information system that is going to be needed to measure this effort end-to-end. So a kind invitation and encouragement to leverage open source as much as possible so other countries can really use your effort and thinking in the global south, no, accelerate the adoption of these platforms that can really make actionable the policy and the framework being created. So congratulations on that and very much looking forward and I think a very natural synergy can be done with OSPO’s initiatives in UN to help you document all the source code in GitHub shared with other countries to scale this effort. So thank you for what you kindly share. Last but not least, we have Thomas Eber, he’s a policy analyst in the DigiConnect initiative from the European Commission and he’s also accompanying us virtually. So over to you, Thomas.

Thomas Ebert: Yes, thanks for the kind introduction and thanks for allowing me to speak at this wonderful panel. I come from the German Environment Agency and I’m now seconded to the Commission to DigiConnect, so actually really bridging the digital and the environmental world. And I think this is something which is very much needed and this is something where the DPP really can make a big difference. So we call it DPP in Europe, as already has been announced, Digital Product Passport. It was introduced in the Eco-Design for Sustainable Product Regulation, which was adopted last year. And it is a tool to really bind information digital to a product in the physical world to allow a circular economy to happen. Because a lot of circular economy use cases depend on information actually about the product. So when you want to reuse the product or repair the product, you need to have information about what is the state of health of the battery I want to buy, what is the manual, how to repair the product. So a lot of information is needed in that context. And in Europe, the first passports will be mandatory for big batteries, so meaning car batteries, like over two kilowatt hours, so not the starter batteries, lead-ion batteries. As of 2027, data will apply to different other products groups like textiles, iron and steel, and many more progressively over time. But to follow these discussions, I think it’s very helpful to separate two different discussion streams. On the one hand side, what is required for the technical DPP system? So what norms and standards do I have to use to exchange the information? And then on the other hand side, what data needs to be in a digital product passport for a specific product group, like batteries or t-shirts? or whatever. So with respect to the first one, there’s a lot of standardization work already going on in Europe. We have SENSENELEC as the European Standardization Organizations who work on standards to build the DPP system, as we say it. And for us, it’s very important to stress that it needs to be based on openness and transparency and really to ensure the interoperability, also other speakers have mentioned already, and especially also to prevent a vendor lock-in to a single company, a single provider of a specific solution, to ensure that the systems are future-proof and open. And in that regard, we also targeted the standardization bodies and told them, look what’s on international level, on ISO level happening, because for us, it’s clear that the supply chains are global and we need to link to the global supply chains. And when I heard the example of Francesca talking about the EPR schemes, so this makes me very optimistic, because when we discuss DPPs, it starts with some information which is linked to a product, but this can only be the start for transition to a circular economy. There needs to be a lot of services built around that. And actually, I’m happy to follow up with you, Francesca, on this, because we’re discussing the same, how can we link digital product passports to the EPR schemes to really make progress on that side as well. But first, we need to start small with the DPP to set up this exchange tool for information between companies and administrations to really make the progress. And as a last thought on that, for us also, especially in DigiConnect, it’s very important that these systems work in a B2B setting, so that they enable really the circular business models that we need, so that they might allow product as a service business models to really make progress in that sense. And for this, we also have the Surpass 2 project you might have heard about. This is a project piloting digital product passports. They have 13 different pilots for different product groups like tires, washing machines, and there we specifically task them to really investigate what’s in for circular economy if you have a DPP for that product group. How can you support circular economy in that sense? And with this, I think I’m a bit short on time and happy to discuss further if you want.

Yolanda Martinez: Thank you so much. And you mentioned two elements that I think also help us recap this conversation, which is the digital technology stack that is needed to enable the different use cases, and then the policy side, and the importance of making sure that there is the right energy when circular economy policies are being developed with the digital agenda authority that is running the basic technology stack that is agnostic to any use case, right? Identity, interoperability is the same if you’re doing a digital product passport than a verifiable credential to identify SMEs or a passport of a driver license, right? It’s a digital service on its own that is needed to enable extended producer responsibility, trustability, et cetera. So, I’m very much looking forward to the work that is being done and especially to see that what everyone is expressing generates more ideas to collaborate. So, I think the message is clear, no? Piloting a quick iteration on what the outcome of those pilots are, diversifying the different use cases from batteries to textiles to many others, and sharing how all this progress is taking place. So, with this, thank you so much for the invitation to moderate this segment, and over to Reyna for closing remarks.

Agreement points

Need for interoperability and standardization across digital product passport systems

Speakers

– Fabienne Pierre
– Maria Teresa Pisani
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

The framework requires agreed data categories, accessibility, interoperability, comparability, traceability, and technology openness across multiple sectors

UNECE focuses on enabling interoperability of information exchange systems so actors along value chains can speak a common language

Digital product passports must be based on openness, transparency, and interoperability to prevent vendor lock-in and ensure future-proof systems

Summary

All speakers emphasized the critical importance of interoperability and standardization to ensure different digital product passport systems can communicate effectively and prevent fragmentation across sectors and jurisdictions

Topics

Digital standards | Data governance | Telecommunications infrastructure

Importance of pilot projects for testing and iterating digital product passport frameworks

Speakers

– Francesca Cenni
– Maria Teresa Pisani
– Hoda Shakra
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

Basel Convention is testing digital product passports for waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay to link information with extended producer responsibility schemes

UNECE has conducted pilots on traceability and transparency with the World Bank for the cotton sector in Uzbekistan

Egypt has multiple initiatives including COICA-funded digital platforms project, e-manufacturing pilot with RFID integration, and Seiko technology implementation

European Commission runs the Surpass 2 project with 13 pilots for different product groups to investigate circular economy benefits

Summary

All speakers demonstrated commitment to practical implementation through pilot projects across different sectors and regions, recognizing the value of testing frameworks in real-world scenarios before full-scale deployment

Topics

Digital business models | Sustainable development | Capacity development

Integration of digital product passports with circular economy and environmental policies

Speakers

– Fabienne Pierre
– Francesca Cenni
– Maria Teresa Pisani
– Hoda Shakra
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

ITU participates in the Impact Initiative Digitalization for Circular Economy launched by One Planet Network and UNEP with multiple partners from different sectors

Basel Convention aims to bridge the gap in circular economy by providing information for recycling, repair, and waste management decisions

The framework supports traceability from raw materials to consumers, helping fight greenwashing and ensure reliable sustainability claims

Egypt is integrating DPI systems into e-waste management technical regulations, extended producer responsibility frameworks, and circular economy policy development

Digital product passports enable circular business models and product-as-a-service approaches by providing necessary product information

Summary

All speakers recognized digital product passports as essential tools for enabling circular economy practices, supporting environmental sustainability, and facilitating better waste management and recycling decisions

Topics

Sustainable development | E-waste | Digital business models

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the need for global coordination and mapping of digital product passport initiatives across different regions and jurisdictions to ensure alignment and avoid fragmentation

Speakers

– Fabienne Pierre
– Maria Teresa Pisani

Arguments

The framework development involves global consultations starting with Latin America, followed by Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe

UNECE works with ISO through a joint technical committee to map global digital passport initiatives and ensure alignment across jurisdictions

Topics

Digital standards | Interdisciplinary approaches | Capacity development

Both speakers highlighted the specific integration of digital product passports with extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes as a practical approach to waste management and environmental compliance

Speakers

– Francesca Cenni
– Hoda Shakra

Arguments

Basel Convention is testing digital product passports for waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay to link information with extended producer responsibility schemes

Egypt is integrating DPI systems into e-waste management technical regulations, extended producer responsibility frameworks, and circular economy policy development

Topics

E-waste | Sustainable development | Consumer protection

Both speakers demonstrated government-level commitment to implementing digital product passport systems through formal regulatory frameworks and standards, showing policy-level support for the initiative

Speakers

– Hoda Shakra
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

Egypt has issued ministerial decree ES2501 for electrical and electronic devices based on international benchmark IEC 62368

European Commission has introduced mandatory digital product passports through the Eco-Design for Sustainable Product Regulation, starting with batteries in 2027

Topics

Digital standards | Consumer protection | Sustainable development

Unexpected consensus

Cross-sector application of digital product passports beyond ICT

Speakers

– Fabienne Pierre
– Maria Teresa Pisani
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

ITU participates in the Impact Initiative Digitalization for Circular Economy launched by One Planet Network and UNEP with multiple partners from different sectors

UNECE works with ISO through a joint technical committee to map global digital passport initiatives and ensure alignment across jurisdictions

European Commission runs the Surpass 2 project with 13 pilots for different product groups to investigate circular economy benefits

Explanation

Despite ITU’s primary focus on ICT, there was unexpected consensus that digital product passports should be sector-agnostic and applicable across textiles, construction, batteries, and other industries, showing remarkable alignment on cross-sector standardization

Topics

Digital standards | Sustainable development | Interdisciplinary approaches

Immediate practical implementation readiness across different development levels

Speakers

– Francesca Cenni
– Hoda Shakra
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

Basel Convention is testing digital product passports for waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay to link information with extended producer responsibility schemes

Egypt has multiple initiatives including COICA-funded digital platforms project, e-manufacturing pilot with RFID integration, and Seiko technology implementation

European Commission runs the Surpass 2 project with 13 pilots for different product groups to investigate circular economy benefits

Explanation

Unexpectedly, countries and organizations at different development stages (Uruguay, Egypt, European Union) all demonstrated readiness to implement pilot projects simultaneously, suggesting the framework’s adaptability across different economic and technological contexts

Topics

Capacity development | Digital access | Sustainable development

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrated remarkable consensus on the need for interoperable, standardized digital product passport systems that support circular economy goals through practical pilot implementations across multiple sectors and regions

Consensus level

High level of consensus with strong alignment on technical requirements, implementation approaches, and environmental objectives. This consensus suggests strong potential for successful global coordination and adoption of digital product passport frameworks, with the main challenge being coordination rather than fundamental disagreements on approach or objectives

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

The discussion showed remarkable consensus among speakers with no direct disagreements identified. All participants shared common goals around developing interoperable digital product passport systems that support circular economy and sustainability objectives.

Disagreement level

Very low disagreement level. The speakers demonstrated strong alignment on fundamental principles and objectives, with differences mainly in implementation approaches and regional/organizational priorities rather than conflicting viewpoints. This high level of consensus suggests favorable conditions for collaborative development of the global digital product passport framework, though coordination challenges may arise from the diversity of approaches being pursued simultaneously across different organizations and regions.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the need for global coordination and mapping of digital product passport initiatives across different regions and jurisdictions to ensure alignment and avoid fragmentation

Speakers

– Fabienne Pierre
– Maria Teresa Pisani

Arguments

The framework development involves global consultations starting with Latin America, followed by Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe

UNECE works with ISO through a joint technical committee to map global digital passport initiatives and ensure alignment across jurisdictions

Topics

Digital standards | Interdisciplinary approaches | Capacity development

Both speakers highlighted the specific integration of digital product passports with extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes as a practical approach to waste management and environmental compliance

Speakers

– Francesca Cenni
– Hoda Shakra

Arguments

Basel Convention is testing digital product passports for waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay to link information with extended producer responsibility schemes

Egypt is integrating DPI systems into e-waste management technical regulations, extended producer responsibility frameworks, and circular economy policy development

Topics

E-waste | Sustainable development | Consumer protection

Both speakers demonstrated government-level commitment to implementing digital product passport systems through formal regulatory frameworks and standards, showing policy-level support for the initiative

Speakers

– Hoda Shakra
– Thomas Ebert

Arguments

Egypt has issued ministerial decree ES2501 for electrical and electronic devices based on international benchmark IEC 62368

European Commission has introduced mandatory digital product passports through the Eco-Design for Sustainable Product Regulation, starting with batteries in 2027

Topics

Digital standards | Consumer protection | Sustainable development

Key takeaways

Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are emerging as a critical tool for enabling circular economy by providing structured product information through unique identifiers accessible to various stakeholders throughout product lifecycles

Global standardization and interoperability are essential – multiple organizations (ITU, UNECE, European Commission, Basel Convention) are developing complementary standards and frameworks that must work together

Pilot projects are crucial for framework development and testing – current pilots include waste lead-acid batteries in Uruguay, textile traceability, e-manufacturing in Egypt, and 13 European pilots across different product categories

The framework must be sector-agnostic but with sector-specific extensions, starting with batteries, textiles, and ICT products, with different information levels for different user types (consumers vs. manufacturers)

Integration with existing environmental policies is key – DPPs should be embedded in e-waste management regulations, extended producer responsibility schemes, and circular economy policies

Global South participation is essential for inclusive development – consultations are being conducted across regions (Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific) to ensure the framework works globally

Technical infrastructure must be based on open standards to prevent vendor lock-in and ensure future-proof, interoperable systems that can connect across global supply chains

Resolutions and action items

Continue global consultations with next phases targeting Africa, then Asia-Pacific and Europe following the Latin America consultation in Brasilia

Develop and test pilot projects across different sectors and regions, with timeline for textile pilot estimated from Q3 2025 to Q2 2026

Standardize the global framework through ITU with focus on ICT sector, with new work item opened in June

Egypt to integrate DPI systems into upcoming e-waste management technical regulations and extended producer responsibility framework development

Share pilot project progress and use cases proactively rather than waiting for next panel discussions

Promote framework adoption in high-level political forums like UNEA, High-Level Political Forum, and UNGA

Encourage participation from stakeholders as ambassadors, providing feedback and technical input to category selection

Leverage open source approaches and document source code in GitHub for global south countries to accelerate adoption

Unresolved issues

How to balance information transparency with competitive sensitivity between manufacturers – what information should be shared and what should remain proprietary

Specific governance structures and mechanisms for the global framework implementation and oversight

Cost implications and funding mechanisms for implementation, particularly for Global South countries and SMEs

Technical details of how different national and regional systems will achieve interoperability in practice

Specific timelines for mandatory implementation across different regions and product categories beyond Europe’s 2027 battery requirement

How to ensure data privacy and security while maintaining transparency and accessibility requirements

Mechanisms for ensuring compliance and enforcement of digital product passport requirements globally

Suggested compromises

Differentiated information access levels based on user type – consumers receive environmental impact information while manufacturers get more detailed technical data, balancing transparency with competitive concerns

Voluntary adoption phase before mandatory implementation to allow stakeholders to adapt and provide feedback

Sector-agnostic framework with sector-specific extensions to balance standardization with industry-specific needs

Phased implementation starting with specific product categories (batteries, textiles) before expanding to more complex sectors like ICT

Building on existing standards and systems rather than creating entirely new frameworks to reduce implementation burden and leverage current investments

But it might vary to which one is the one that is using this information. If it’s a consumer, maybe you will not have all the details, but you will have the environmental impact that it has. If you are a manufacturer, maybe you will not have all the products, because also how we ensure this competitiveness between one manufacturer and the others, and what are you using? It is a very sensitive topic that they are discussing right now.

Speaker

Fabienne Pierre

Reason

This comment introduces a critical tension in digital product passport implementation – the balance between transparency and competitive advantage. It highlights that information access must be tiered based on user roles and raises fundamental questions about what information should be public versus proprietary.

Impact

This comment established a foundational challenge that influenced the entire discussion. It set the stage for subsequent speakers to address how their organizations handle information sensitivity and stakeholder access, making it a recurring theme throughout the panel.

We are testing the passport for waste lead-acid batteries… These are very, very hazardous products. So we thought, perhaps you can try to link the information on these batteries to the importers, to those who then will take responsibility for their take-back, for their collection… This is because we are looking for a tool to control the illegal traffic and the incorrect management of these batteries.

Speaker

Francesca Cenni

Reason

This comment transforms the abstract concept of digital product passports into a concrete solution for a critical environmental and safety problem. It demonstrates how DPPs can address illegal trafficking and hazardous waste management, moving beyond theoretical benefits to practical implementation.

Impact

This concrete example energized the discussion and provided a tangible reference point for other speakers. It shifted the conversation from theoretical frameworks to real-world applications, with subsequent speakers referencing pilots and practical implementations in their own contexts.

Great to have the traceability, great to have the transparency. A lot of data are available along the value chain. The problem is that their availability is silenced. So very important to work on interoperability of information exchange systems to ensure that actors along the value chain speak a common language.

Speaker

Maria Teresa Pisani

Reason

This comment identifies a crucial gap between having data and being able to use it effectively. It reframes the challenge from data collection to data communication and interoperability, highlighting that technical standards are as important as the information itself.

Impact

This insight shifted the technical focus of the discussion toward interoperability standards and common languages. It influenced subsequent speakers to address how their systems would connect with others, making interoperability a central theme in the remaining presentations.

Egypt currently is working on the development of the circular economy policy for Egypt and it includes eight sectors and one of these sectors is the ICT sector and also it will be very good to include TPI, to embed it as part of the national strategy and the circular economy policy.

Speaker

Hoda Shakra

Reason

This comment demonstrates how developing countries can integrate DPPs into broader policy frameworks rather than treating them as standalone initiatives. It shows strategic thinking about embedding digital tools within existing policy development processes.

Impact

This comment provided a model for policy integration that other developing countries could follow. It shifted the discussion toward how DPPs can be embedded in national strategies rather than implemented as separate projects, influencing the moderator’s closing remarks about aligning digital and circular economy policies.

I think it’s very helpful to separate two different discussion streams. On the one hand side, what is required for the technical DPP system? So what norms and standards do I have to use to exchange the information? And then on the other hand side, what data needs to be in a digital product passport for a specific product group.

Speaker

Thomas Ebert

Reason

This comment provides crucial analytical clarity by separating technical infrastructure from content requirements. It helps organize the complex DPP discussion into manageable components and clarifies why different stakeholders might have different priorities.

Impact

This conceptual framework helped structure the remaining discussion and the moderator’s synthesis. It provided a clear way to think about the different aspects of DPP implementation and influenced how the moderator summarized the key themes in her closing remarks.

So, I think the message is clear, no? Piloting a quick iteration on what the outcome of those pilots are, diversifying the different use cases from batteries to textiles to many others, and sharing how all this progress is taking place.

Speaker

Yolanda Martinez

Reason

This synthesis comment captures the emergent consensus from the discussion – that progress requires diverse, iterative pilots with active knowledge sharing. It transforms individual organizational efforts into a collective learning approach.

Impact

This comment crystallized the discussion’s main actionable outcome and provided a clear path forward for collaboration. It unified the various organizational perspectives into a shared methodology for advancing DPP implementation globally.

Overall assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by progressively building from conceptual challenges to practical solutions. Fabienne’s opening comment about information sensitivity established the complexity of the challenge, while Francesca’s concrete pilot example demonstrated feasibility. Maria Teresa’s interoperability insight shifted focus to technical integration, Hoda’s policy integration approach showed strategic implementation, and Thomas’s analytical framework provided conceptual clarity. Finally, Yolanda’s synthesis unified these perspectives into a collaborative action plan. Together, these comments transformed what could have been a series of organizational presentations into a dynamic conversation about practical implementation challenges and solutions, culminating in a clear methodology for moving forward through diverse, iterative pilots with active knowledge sharing.

What are the results from the first consultation of the framework in Latin America held in Brasilia with 20 countries?

Speaker

Fabienne Pierre

Explanation

Fabienne mentioned they cannot share the results yet as they haven’t received the news, but this information is needed to inform the next regional consultations and framework development

How to ensure competitiveness between manufacturers while sharing sensitive product information in digital product passports?

Speaker

Fabienne Pierre

Explanation

This was identified as a very sensitive topic currently being discussed, particularly regarding what information different stakeholders should have access to

What does the digital product passport regulation mean for different ministries and which ministries should be involved?

Speaker

Fabienne Pierre

Explanation

This was mentioned as part of awareness discussions during consultations, as many stakeholders know very little about the implications

How to estimate the cost of implementation in the Global South?

Speaker

Fabienne Pierre

Explanation

This is part of the pilot project objectives to inform the development of national instruments and ensure accessibility for developing countries

What are the difficulties, steps, and technologies used in the Uruguay pilot project for waste lead-acid batteries?

Speaker

Francesca Cenni

Explanation

Francesca mentioned they hope to provide more details on the pilot testing process, challenges faced, and technical implementation in future sessions

How can digital product passports be effectively linked to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes?

Speaker

Francesca Cenni and Thomas Ebert

Explanation

Both speakers mentioned this connection as important for circular economy implementation, with Thomas expressing interest in following up on this topic

How to reduce cost and complexity of digital product passport implementation, especially for SMEs and actors in emerging economies?

Speaker

Maria Teresa Pisani

Explanation

This was identified as crucial for ensuring inclusive adoption and making sustainable behavior the norm globally

How to leverage open source solutions for digital product passport information systems to enable knowledge sharing between countries?

Speaker

Yolanda Martinez

Explanation

Suggested as a way to help other countries, particularly in the Global South, accelerate adoption by using Egypt’s development efforts

What circular economy use cases can be supported by digital product passports for different product groups?

Speaker

Thomas Ebert

Explanation

This is being investigated through the Surpass 2 project with 13 different pilots to understand how DPPs can enable circular business models

How to ensure interoperability between different digital product passport initiatives globally while preventing vendor lock-in?

Speaker

Thomas Ebert and Maria Teresa Pisani

Explanation

Critical for ensuring systems are future-proof, open, and can work across global supply chains with different jurisdictions developing their own approaches