Blockchain-Based Digital Product Passport for the Circular Economy
Jaehyun Kim, Sangmyeong Lee, Howon Kim · 2024
As the world faces challenges like resource depletion and environmental degradation, the concept of a circular economy is gaining attention. Central to this concept is the ability to track and manage the life cycle of products, which is where the Digital Product Passport (DPP) becomes crucial. A DPP provides a comprehensive record of a product's entire life cycle, from raw material sourcing to disposal or recycling, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability across the supply chain. This paper proposes using blockchain technology, specifically Hyperledger Fabric, to implement DPPs. The proposed system uses separate channels to manage different stages of a product's life cycle, thereby enhancing data security and stakeholder collaboration. Additionally, the implementation of decentralized identifiers (DIDs) is recommended to facilitate data integration and ensure unified access across channels. This approach allows each stakeholder to access only the necessary information, preventing unnecessary data exposure. The use of DIDs also facilitates data integration across multiple channels and provides a unified data query function, enabling consistent tracking of data throughout the entire life cycle of a product.