Resources Passport

A standardized data format that provides an overview of the resources and their characteristics that comprise a product

What is a Resources Passport?

A Resources Passport is standardized data format that provides an overview of the resources, and their characteristics, that comprise a product.

A Resources Passport enables context independent and cross sector comparison of resources for example of the building you are in, the computer you are using and the chair that you are sitting on.

The structuring of resource data of your products and tangible assets in a standardized, comparable format enables all actors in the supply chain to work together towards a worldwide circular economy.

Resources Passport

Resources Passport

The Resources Passport works almost like a regular passport. It gives resources an identity and it provides a location where data of a product can be collected through every step of its life cycle. This data is collected and stored by the various stakeholders that the product and resources interact with. These stakeholders can be designers, producers, users as well as recyclers. The collected data enables these stakeholders to optimize for a circular economy.
For example, material characteristics are added to the Resources Passport in the production phase. This information travels along with the product. At the end of its life cycle, this data can be used for high-value reuse and recycling. The passport does not stop here. It stays with the resources and also enables designers to source secondary materials that fulfill the requirements they think their product needs. This will enable the creation of an open loop economy in which resources flow freely and high-value (re)use is ensured!

What can you do with a Resources Passport

And there are many other applications. Of course, the more detailed the information in a Resources Passport is, the more possibilities there are for companies to turn their waste into wealth. The data in a Resources Passport offers the user a myriad of opportunities. For example:  

  • Create a “story of stuff”
  • Track and trace resources throughout value chains
  • Know the source of the materials and components of a product
  • Source ethically, for example conflict free minerals
  • Control where materials are going after use
  • Facilitate reverse logistics and take
  • back systems for resources
  • Improve reuse and recycling rates
  • Facilitate better business cases for new and innovative waste processing technologies
  • Calculate residual values of products / assets
  • Enable environmental and social impact assessment
  • Assess the circularity of a product
  • Reverse design processes by starting with the use of available secondary materials
  • Provide an incentive to produce ‘healthy’ products
  • Create a stock market for materials
  • Create a derivative market for secondary materials and components

And there are many other applications. Of course, the more detailed the information in a Resources Passport is, the more possibilities there are for companies to turn their waste into wealth.

Who can use it

The Resources Passport offers opportunities for every actor in the supply chain. For example, it can help you to get a better understanding about which resources are present in your sphere of influence, it can create new ownership and business models, and it can create a better understanding of the environmental/societal impact of your assets. This enables better strategic decision making and optimization of the economy around resource effectiveness.

  • Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
  • Recyclers and other waste management companies
  • Governments (including municipalities, provinces, etc.)
  • Government agencies
  • Banks and other financial institutes
  • Pension funds
  • Insurance companies
  • Project developers
  • Research & Development organizations
  • Architects
  • Design & Engineering firms
  • (Strategy) Consultants
  • Consumers
  • Retailers
  • Material brokers, speculators, etc.
  • Logistical companies

The pilot participants of the EME already use the Resources Passport!

Are you interested in exploring what a Resources Passport can do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help!

Standardization of information

Standardization of information

Standardization of resources information is of paramount importance to create a system that is context independent and works with and in between different sectors and industries.
The highest value reuse potential of materials does not necessarily occur within the same sector. However, existing tools and methods like Bills of Materials (BOM), Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or other resources passports do not allow for context independent comparison of resources. Our passport will be able to incorporate data from the already existing tools and methods to avoid doubling of efforts.

Our Resources Passport is not just another way of storing more data

It is an information management system that collects static and dynamic resources data on products (think of origin, composition, load and maintenance data). By combining all that information in one place (hyperlink), and making it accessible to our analytical tool, we will be able to transition towards a large scale circular economy.

High value reuse of resources

Coffee leftovers remain ‘waste’ for a coffee producer. Now this ‘waste’ is often composted or burned. However, coffee leftovers are also valuable input for a mushroom grower or can be converted into packaging material. By reusing it as the latter, the leftovers can create more value for buyer and seller in terms of money and environmental impact.
At the moment it is really hard to find these high value reuse options. One reason is because of a lack of transparent and standardized data. When it is possible to compare coffee leftovers with packaging materials or the resources in a computer with the materials in a car we are able to true create an open loop system in which resources circulate freely throughout the economy.

Use of sensitive data

Your data security is important. Transparency is equally important. We need both to truly achieve a circular economy.
To ensure that your data is safe and can still be used to achieve high value reuse we use blockchain technology. This allows you to remain owner of your product and resource data stored in the Resources Passport. You decide which part of the data you share, with whom and for how long.
For example, waste volumes produced by chemical companies are regarded as competitive data. However, to be able to optimally recycle this ‘waste’, it is important to disclose volume and timing related data to recyclers so that they can allocate capacity in their facilities. The chemical company can then decide themselves to disclose the specific information about volumes only to relevant recyclers.
Moreover by using Blockchain we create an incorruptible chain of resource data. This eliminates the need for expensive third party verification and the need for central control – and possible power plays.

Use of sensitive data

Who we are

The Resources Passport is designed by the team of the Excess Materials Exchange. The Excess Materials Exchange is a digital facilitated marketplace where your company can exchange any excess materials and products. The EME speeds up your transition to a circular economy and turns your waste into wealth!

What we offer

Workshops

We provide workshops ranging from 2 to 8 hours. We tell you what the resources passport is, why it is necessary and how your organization can use the passport.

Consultancy

We can help you fill in a resources passport for your products. The required time for this depends on the complexity of the product and the readily available information.

Comparison

We can help you comparing your tool or method to a standardized resources passport and see how you can make it more context independent and hence interoperable.

Contact us