The data story behind sustainability
Together, digital maturity and connected data empower organizations to embed sustainability into engineering, manufacturing and supply chains
Digital Product Passports: Building the foundation for a more transparent industry
Digital Product Passports are redefining transparency by connecting lifecycle data across products and partners.
When I speak to manufacturers about future challenges in their industry, one topic keeps rising to the surface — the Digital Product Passport (DPP). For many, it sounds like yet another layer of compliance. But for those of us who see how consolidated data management can reshape industry, the DPP represents something far more significant: the foundation for a new era of transparency, circularity, and collaboration.
Europe’s manufacturing landscape is shifting. Sustainability is no longer a marketing term or an aspiration — it’s becoming a customer’s expectation as well as being a part of a way to differentiate. And of course, it's becoming a part of standard practices and regulations. The DPP is one of the catalysts for that shift. It forces us to think differently about data, systems, and the relationships between companies across the value chain.
Diederick Hallynck
CTO, 9altitudes
"Most manufacturers already have the right information somewhere in their systems, but it’s scattered across PLM, ERP, MES, and other platforms."
Diederick Hallynck - CTO, 9altitudes
Beyond Compliance
If we only look at the Digital Product Passport through the lens of compliance, we miss the point. The DPP isn’t just a reporting tool — it’s a blueprint for how data should flow across the lifecycle of a product.
Think about it: every product already leaves a digital footprint. It’s designed in CAD, built through ERP and MES, delivered through logistics systems, and serviced through Field and Customer Service. But those data points are often disconnected. The DPP gives us a reason — and a framework — to connect them intelligently.
At 9altitudes, we work with manufacturers who are already using the DPP concept to go beyond regulation. They’re leveraging traceability data to optimize production, reduce waste, and design for reuse. That’s not compliance — that’s innovation.
Connecting the Digital Threads
The biggest challenge isn’t the lack of data — it’s the lack of connection. Most manufacturers already have the right information somewhere in their systems, but it’s scattered across PLM, ERP, MES, and other platforms, for both internal and external (vendors, customers, partners) data that doesn’t “talk” to each other.
That’s where digital architecture matters. When you build a consistent data model across the business, you move from fragmented visibility to actionable intelligence. In other words, the DPP is only as strong as the systems feeding it.
We need interoperability — a digital common thread that links design, production, and service. Without it, the DPP becomes a static document instead of a living asset.
Circularity Starts with Data
Circular manufacturing is not just a vision for the future — it’s an operational reality that starts with data discipline. You can’t recycle or reuse effectively without knowing exactly what’s in your product, where it came from, and how it performs in the field.
That’s the power of the DPP. It turns sustainability from an abstract goal into something measurable and traceable.
But here’s the truth: implementing a DPP doesn’t automatically make your business circular. It gives you the right tools to become circular — the insight to make informed design choices, and the evidence to prove your impact.
Preparing for What Comes Next
The Digital Product Passport is still evolving. The technical standards are being refined, and not every detail is set in stone. But waiting for the final version is a strategic mistake.
Forward-thinking manufacturers are already preparing their data architecture, governance models, and internal processes. They’re mapping their supply chains, cleaning their data, and investing in systems that can exchange information seamlessly.
If you start now, you’re not just preparing for regulation — you’re future-proofing your business.
A Call to Lead
As a CTO, I see the DPP as an opportunity to lead transformation, not react to it. It’s a framework that connects sustainability, traceability, and efficiency — and technology is the enabler that makes it possible.
We have a responsibility to design systems that not only comply but contribute — systems that make data accessible, trustworthy, and valuable across the entire lifecycle of a product.
Because ultimately, the companies that succeed in the next decade will be those that turn compliance into competitiveness — and data into purpose.
Sustainability insights survey
The survey provided insights into the pressures organizations face to supply sustainability data. The results indicate that more than 75% either feel this pressure or anticipate experiencing it in the future. Comparing this with the level of preparation and support from digital business applications, the data suggests that many companies are not yet prepared or do not collect data in a structured manner using such tools. Given these findings, organizations may need to begin focusing on developing data capturing, collection, and reporting practices related to sustainability.