Digital product passports show promise for vertically integrated aluminium supply chain
Two European projects mapped the aluminium value chain and used digital product passports for bauxite.
A European trial focused on how supply-chain traceability can support the energy transition. The project was split into two.
First, a mapping exercise examined two aluminium-containing supply chains linked to renewable energy components.
Four active Tier-1 supplier pathways were established and 10 Tier-2 actors were identified across Europe, Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Siemens Gamesa (Siemens Energy wind power business) explored engagement across several supplier pathways. While, TKF (a Dutch cable supplier) provided upstream visibility through a largely vertically integrated supply structure, with information extending towards wire rod, primary aluminium, alumina and bauxite operations.
Together, they illustrated how different supply-chain structures can influence the depth and pace of mapping.
The second pilot showed how digital product passports (DPP) could be used to structure and connect supply chain and environmental, social and governance information, which was collected as part of the first activity.
The DPP examples demonstrated how information relating to renewable energy components could be digitally represented and selectively shared through different access levels addressing commercial sensitivity concerns.
The assessment indicated that DPP and blockchain technologies can support structured information management, data integrity, version control and controlled disclosure.
It also show that supply chain structure shapes how quickly and how deeply mapping can progress: vertically integrated structures offer a more direct route upstream, while chains of several independent actors need more time.
The project reportedly delivers practical experience and tested approaches that could inform future efforts towards greater transparency and responsible sourcing across renewable energy supply chains.
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