The transition from a linear economic model to a circular model is crucial, due to the limited resources of our planet. The Circular Economy (CE) aims to maintain material continuity through the cycle of production, consumption and recycling. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is recognised as a critical instrument for advancing CE, serving as a comprehensive digital repository for product lifecycle information. The DPP paradigm fosters transparency and traceability. However, so far there is no agreed-upon standard for technically representing and expressing DPPs. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the requirements of a general (cross-sectoral) DPP, and to discuss a core DPP model. We propose to express this in the form of an ontology network, i.e., a formal model serving as a "translation layer" from raw data to interpreted information, along with SHACL shapes for ensuring increased data quality. Despite existing research on DPPs, a comprehensive tool for technically representing DPPs is missing, making this paper a pioneering exploration into the modelling of a DPP core ontology.

The Circular Economy (CE) domain is increasingly leveraging ontologies to represent domain knowledge for data sharing and exchange. Several CE-related ontologies have been developed to model CE-specific knowledge for circular value networks. However, CE knowledge representation also relies heavily on existing ontologies from related domains, such as materials and manufacturing, due to the cross-industry nature of CE. Aligning CE-related ontologies is a key step toward enhancing interoperability and reusability. In this paper, we present alignment results and discussions on CE-related ontologies based on an extended ontology survey within the scope of the Onto-DESIDE project.

The Circular Economy (CE) domain has a nature of connecting and linking multiple cross-industry domains (e.g., manufacturing and materials) aiming to reduce value loss and avoid waste by building and implementing CE models (i.e., circular value networks) across these domains. In recent years, ontologies have been recognized as a key for representing domain knowledge in CE. Both CE-specific and domain-specific ontologies exist, with more continuously emerging. Matching CE-related ontologies can generate alignments that enhance the interoperability and reusability of such ontologies.In this paper, we present our initial efforts and findings in matching ontologies within the CE domain.

As we live in a world of limited resources, the transition from a linear economic model to a circular model is crucial. The Circular Economy (CE) paradigm aims to maintain material continuity through the cycle of production, consumption and recycling. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is currently recognised as a critical instrument for advancing CE, serving as a comprehensive digital repository for product lifecycle information. The DPP paradigm fosters transparency and traceability. However, so far there is no agreed-upon standard for technically representing and expressing DPPs. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the requirements of a general (cross-sectoral) DPP, and to discuss the representation of a core DPP model. We propose to express this in the form of an ontology network, i.e., a formal model serving as a “translation layer” from raw data to interpreted information, along with SHACL shapes for increased data quality and validation. Despite existing research on DPPs, a comprehensive tool enabling this transition into using DPPs is yet to be developed, making this paper a pioneering exploration into the modelling of a DPP core ontology.

Circular Economy has the goal to reduce value loss and avoid waste by extending the life span of materials and products, including circulating materials or product parts before they become waste. Circular economy models (e.g., circular value networks) are typically complex and networked, involving different cross-industry domains. In the context of a circular value network, multiple actors, such as suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers, and product end-users, may be involved. In addition, there may be various flows of resources, energy, information and value throughout the network. This means that we face the challenge that the data and information from cross-industry domains in a circular economy model are not built on common ground, and as a result are difficult to understand and use for both humans and machines. Using ontologies to represent domain knowledge can enable actors and stakeholders from different industries in the circular economy to communicate using a common language. The knowledge domains involved include circular economy, sustainability, materials, products, manufacturing, and logistics. The objective of this paper is to investigate the landscape of current ontologies for these domains. This will enable us to in the future explore what existing knowledge can be adapted or used to develop ontologies for circular value networks.

Circular Economy (CE) aims to reduce value loss and avoid waste by extending the life of products,components, and materials. Circular value networks (CVN), i.e. networks of actors realising partsof the CE, are often complex and involving a multitude of actors, such as suppliers, manufacturers,recyclers, and end-users, from different industry sectors. In addition, the networks enable and managevarious flows of resources, energy, information and value. To set up and operate such networks, datasharing is essential, however, one of the main challenges is semantic interoperability, and as a resultdata are difficult to understand, integrate, and use. Ontologies support semantic interoperability, andcan represent domain knowledge and enable stakeholders to communicate. However, the knowledgedomains involved are many, including sustainability, materials, products, manufacturing, and logistics,where well-established ontologies already exist. In addition, these domains need to be connected torelevant industry sectors. In order to bridge these domains we propose a set of core ontology modules,allowing to express links between existing ontologies as well as filling gaps related to core CE concepts.