Managing a digital product passport for products with critical raw materials

Greenwashing has emerged as a prevalent challenge in sustainability discourse, wherein companies market products as environmentally friendly without providing substantiated evidence. A promising strategy to mitigate this issue is the deployment of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) designed to provide standardized, verifiable product information to stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle. Globally, multiple DPP initiatives are evolving, each reflecting distinct objectives, governance models, and technological architectures. This paper presents a comparative analysis of two major initiatives: the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP) and its UNTP DPP, and the European Union (EU)EUDPP. Through a case study of a UNTP DPP for a computer incorporating critical raw materials—particularly a neodymium magnet—the paper illustrates the practical implementation and benefits of value-chain transparency. The case study is approached from a manufacturer-centric perspective, while also offering a conceptual outlook on the broader implications for value ecosystems within value-driven transparency frameworks. The findings contribute to the understanding of how DPPs can enhance supply chain accountability and support the transition to a circular economy.