Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DigInTraCE (A Digital value chain Integration Traceability framework for process industries for Circularity and low Emissions by waste reduction and use of secondary raw materials)
Período documentado: 2023-01-01 hasta 2024-06-30
The DigInTraCE project aims to support the EU's sustainable and circular economy goals, in line with the European Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), and Digital Compass 2030. Despite policy frameworks promoting sustainable products and processes, challenges such as lack of transparency, traceability, complex information management, and varying digital capabilities impede progress. DigInTraCE addresses these issues by developing a decentralized digital traceability platform using blockchain, AI, and digital product passports (DPP). The platform will provide real-time information on product composition, origin, and lifecycle, targeting sectors like chemicals, pulp and paper, ceramics, and cement to enhance circularity and optimize secondary material use. Pathway to Impact: Fostering Circular Economy: Developing digital tools to enhance the reuse, recycling, and upcycling of secondary materials, reducing waste and emissions, and minimizing virgin material use, New Digital Tracing Concepts: Establishing a decentralized platform for real-time updates on material quality and history, validated through sector demonstrations, Real-Time Data Exchange through DPPs: Implementing dynamic DPP schemes with advanced sensing and sorting technologies to improve material identification and separation, Cross-Sectoral Collaboration and Information Access: Utilizing smart tags, blockchain contracts, and open-source solutions to improve data exchange, transparency, and collaboration, Validating Technologies: Conducting real-world demonstrations in sectors like pulp and paper, wood composites, chemicals, and plastics to test digital tools and promote circular practices, Education and Capacity Building: Offering training programs and resources to enhance digital skills and support stakeholders with sector-specific business models. Expected Impact: DigInTraCE aims to build a framework for a circular economy in Europe, supporting the EU's policy objectives under the Green Deal, CEAP, and Digital Compass 2030 by promoting digital transformation, sustainability, and economic growth.
Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities: Social sciences and humanities are integrated to understand socio-economic impacts, design effective business models, and enhance stakeholder engagement. This alignment with human factors promotes the acceptance of circular economy practices and addresses challenges like skill development and inclusive growth.
Overall, DigInTraCE aims to create a digitally integrated, circular European market by addressing gaps in traceability and data accessibility, fostering collaboration across value chains, and promoting efficient use of secondary materials.
Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities: Social sciences and humanities are integrated to understand socio-economic impacts, design effective business models, and enhance stakeholder engagement. This alignment with human factors promotes the acceptance of circular economy practices and addresses challenges like skill development and inclusive growth.
Overall, DigInTraCE aims to create a digitally integrated, circular European market by addressing gaps in traceability and data accessibility, fostering collaboration across value chains, and promoting efficient use of secondary materials.
During the reporting period, DigInTraCE made progress in several key areas, including: Digitalization of Circular Value Chains: Developed a Dynamic DPP and a Decentralized Traceability Platform for real-time data access and secure information exchange, Technologies for Secondary Materials: Advanced sensing and sorting technologies, like hyperspectral imaging and AI-driven systems, to enhance material identification and management, Digital Tools and Platforms: Enhanced digital tools for traceability, including DPP refinement, blockchain development, and financial modules for economic assessment, Secondary Material Optimization: Improved methods for processing secondary materials, such as protein recovery from composites and production efficiency, Piloting and Demonstration: Conducted demonstrations in Belgium, Spain, Greece, and Italy, validating methods for material reuse, recycling, and upcycling, Guidance and Training: Developed training programs and strategies to align new technologies with industry standards and circular economy principles.
The project made significant progress in developing a digital traceability framework, advancing technologies for material sensing and sorting, refining digital tools and platforms, and demonstrating innovative recycling and upcycling solutions. These achievements lay the foundation for successful implementation and integration in subsequent phases.
The project made significant progress in developing a digital traceability framework, advancing technologies for material sensing and sorting, refining digital tools and platforms, and demonstrating innovative recycling and upcycling solutions. These achievements lay the foundation for successful implementation and integration in subsequent phases.
DigInTraCE has made significant progress in enhancing digital traceability, advancing secondary material technologies, and developing digital tools and platforms, with promising outcomes that are paving the way for future advancements. Digital Traceability: The project is in the process of developing a Dynamic Digital Product Passport (DPP) for ongoing product information updates, ensuring greater transparency and accuracy. The creation of a Decentralized Traceability Platform using blockchain technology is underway, aiming to offer secure, scalable solutions for real-time data access. Secondary Materials Technologies: Advanced sensing technologies, including hyperspectral imaging, are being integrated with machine learning models to improve material detection and classification. AI-driven sorting mechanisms and smart tags are also being developed to enhance sorting and supply chain management. Digital Tools and Platforms: The Dynamic DPP is being refined to enable real-time product updates, while blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) are being developed for secure data management. Financial assessment modules and Mixed Reality (MR) technology are being introduced to support enhanced decision-making. Optimization of Secondary Material Processes: The project is optimizing methods for processing by-products, improving protein recovery from wood-resin composites, and developing bio-based adhesives to increase the efficiency of secondary material use. Piloting and Demonstration: Initial real-world demonstrations are validating new recycling and upcycling methodologies, with further advancements expected to strengthen circular economy objectives.
The project has laid a solid foundation for future developments by establishing a secure and scalable traceability system, advancing material sensing and sorting technologies, and improving digital tools and platforms. These achievements are setting the stage for significant advancements in traceability, material management, and sustainability.
The project has laid a solid foundation for future developments by establishing a secure and scalable traceability system, advancing material sensing and sorting technologies, and improving digital tools and platforms. These achievements are setting the stage for significant advancements in traceability, material management, and sustainability.