APPEND: A Blockchain-Based Model of Digital Product Passport for Furniture Industry

The digital product passport has been introduced as a policy instrument to enable traceability throughout the product life cycle and to support a circular economy. Anyhow, as a relatively new concept, there are a lot of uncertainties throughout the industrial landscape regarding the challenges and opportunities it brings. One such branch of industry is the furniture sector. In this paper, we present a DPP solution for furniture sector based on blockchain technology and inspired by a design thinking mindset. Through a prototype implementation, we highlight the key aspects such as data governance, stakeholder constellation, data interoperability, and data integrity that have significant research potential. Furthermore, we discuss these key concepts of DPP through the lens of eco-design principles in order to promote sustainability, improve energy efficiency, and protect the environment.