Abstract
The digital product passport (DPP) is a key pillar of the European Union’s circular economy action plan, enhancing access to sustainability information and promoting more responsible consumption. However, the challenges for inter-organizational data sharing are significant. This paper proposes a sector-wide information system architecture for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R), which is part of the electronics supply chain, a priority for DPP adoption. The results emerge from a systematic literature review and a field study made in collaboration with a leading HVAC&R business association. The findings show the (1) ecosystem interactions, (2) technologies, and (3) end-to-end interoperability requirements for HVAC&R DPPs. Moreover, the proposed architecture aims to design a DPP data lake for HVAC&R, thereby increasing the value of data-driven product improvement initiatives. Our work confirms that DPPs should be designed at the ecosystem level to ensure efficient data flows from the early stages of production.
Paper Type
Full Paper
DOI
10.62036/ISD.2026.180
Architecting the Digital Product Passport in HVAC&R
The digital product passport (DPP) is a key pillar of the European Union’s circular economy action plan, enhancing access to sustainability information and promoting more responsible consumption. However, the challenges for inter-organizational data sharing are significant. This paper proposes a sector-wide information system architecture for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R), which is part of the electronics supply chain, a priority for DPP adoption. The results emerge from a systematic literature review and a field study made in collaboration with a leading HVAC&R business association. The findings show the (1) ecosystem interactions, (2) technologies, and (3) end-to-end interoperability requirements for HVAC&R DPPs. Moreover, the proposed architecture aims to design a DPP data lake for HVAC&R, thereby increasing the value of data-driven product improvement initiatives. Our work confirms that DPPs should be designed at the ecosystem level to ensure efficient data flows from the early stages of production.
Recommended Citation
Lopes, C. & Barata, J.(2026). Architecting the Digital Product Passport in HVAC&R. In M. Valenta, B. Mannová, R. Pergl, A. Przybylek, M. Lang, H. Linger, C. Schneider, N. Iivari, & E. Insfran (Eds.), Making ISD Sustainable: Reloaded with AI and Automation (ISD2026 Proceedings). Prague, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University in Prague. ISBN: 978-80-01-07585-2. https://doi.org/10.62036/ISD.2026.180