A Sovereign and Interoperable Data Ecosystem for an Eco-Efficient Nonwovens Industry

This study addresses the need for enhanced sustainability in the nonwovens industry by developing a data ecosystem that improves data transparency, interoperability, and decision-making across the value chain. The research focuses on two conceptual models, including the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for tracking sustainability information and a holistic data management system for production environments. The research involved identifying key stakeholders, their tasks, and challenges related to sustainability and applying digital tools to meet these needs. The results demonstrate that integrating these data-space use cases can significantly enhance the availability and verifiability of sustainability data, aligning with European Union objectives such as those in the Gaia-X initiative. However, the proposed concepts have not yet been validated in real-world settings, highlighting the need for further research to assess their effectiveness and scalability. These findings suggest that digital ecosystems have the potential to drive sustainable transformation and foster collaboration in the nonwovens sector, offering a pathway towards more circular and resource-efficient practices.