Circular Economy and Digital Technologies: Lessons from Germany for the Implementation of the Digital Product Passport in Brazil

• Grant number: 25/24281-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Mateus Cecílio Gerolamo
• Grantee: Paulo Vinícius Carneiro Perazolli
• Supervisor: Holger Kohl
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Technical University of Berlin (TU), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 25/08887-1 - The Power of Data Analytics in Transforming the Agribusiness Industry through Digital Product Passport, BP.IC

Abstract

The increasing awareness of environmental impacts associated with consumption andproduction has reinforced the relevance of the circular economy as a pathway to decoupleeconomic growth from resource use. Within this context, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) hasemerged as a pivotal digital tool to enhance transparency, traceability, and data availability acrossproduct life cycles. By integrating information on materials, components, repairability, and endof-life management, the DPP enables informed decision-making by stakeholders, fosterssustainable business models, and supports the European Green Deal and related policyframeworks. Germany stands out as a frontrunner in advancing DPP initiatives, combiningregulatory measures, public policies, and Industry 4.0 technologies such as the AssetAdministration Shell. However, challenges persist, including data gaps, lack of standardization,regulatory complexity, and technological immaturity. To overcome these barriers, digitaltechnologies-such as IoT, blockchain, digital twins, and data spaces-play a decisive role inenabling interoperability, security, and scalability. This research project investigates the potentialof data-driven technologies in DPP implementation, with a comparative approach betweenGermany and Brazil. While Germany provides advanced insights into regulatory and technologicalintegration, Brazil faces critical data challenges, particularly in the agribusiness sector. By bridgingthese contexts, the study aims to contribute to the academic debate on digital sustainabilityinfrastructures and provide practical recommendations for applying DPPs to strengthentransparency, traceability, and circular practices in global value chains.