From Conceptual Silos to a Circular Economy: The BFO-Based Framework for the Digital Product Passport

Alican Tüzün; Judith Warnau; Shailesh Tripathi; Nadine Bachmann; Ann Kristin Thienemann; Manuel Brunner; Herbert Jodlbauer

doi:10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.364

From Conceptual Silos to a Circular Economy: The BFO-Based Framework for the Digital Product Passport

Alican Tüzün^*
, Judith Warnau
, Shailesh Tripathi
, Nadine Bachmann
, Ann Kristin Thienemann
, Manuel Brunner
, Herbert Jodlbauer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research Center Steyr

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

Abstract

The European Union's Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a €1.8 trillion initiative to enable the circular economy, but its success depends on solving a fundamental paradox. The very ontologies designed to ensure interoperability are at risk of creating new "conceptual silos"because they lack a logically sound foundation, consequently risking the initiative. This paper argues that the solution lies in grounding DPP ontologies in a robust upper ontology like Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). Through a systematic analysis of the CIRPASS-2 Core Ontology, we reveal critical ambiguities - notably the conflation of physical processes with digital instructions - that make the current model inherently brittle. We then present a refined BFO-aligned framework that resolves these inconsistencies, providing the logically sound and interoperable foundation to transform the DPP from an ambitious, innovative vision into a functional, data-driven reality.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3277-3286
Number of pages	10
Journal	Procedia Computer Science
Volume	277
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.364
Publication status	Published - 2026
Event	7th International Conference on Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing, former International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing - Malta, Malta Duration: 12 Nov 2025 → 14 Nov 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Basic Formal Ontology (BFO)
Circular Economy
CIRPASS-2
Digital Product Passport (DPP)
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
Ontology Engineering
Semantic Interoperability

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10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.364

Cite this

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title = "From Conceptual Silos to a Circular Economy: The BFO-Based Framework for the Digital Product Passport",

abstract = "The European Union's Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a €1.8 trillion initiative to enable the circular economy, but its success depends on solving a fundamental paradox. The very ontologies designed to ensure interoperability are at risk of creating new {"}conceptual silos{"}because they lack a logically sound foundation, consequently risking the initiative. This paper argues that the solution lies in grounding DPP ontologies in a robust upper ontology like Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). Through a systematic analysis of the CIRPASS-2 Core Ontology, we reveal critical ambiguities - notably the conflation of physical processes with digital instructions - that make the current model inherently brittle. We then present a refined BFO-aligned framework that resolves these inconsistencies, providing the logically sound and interoperable foundation to transform the DPP from an ambitious, innovative vision into a functional, data-driven reality.",

keywords = "Basic Formal Ontology (BFO), Circular Economy, CIRPASS-2, Digital Product Passport (DPP), Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Ontology Engineering, Semantic Interoperability",

author = "Alican T{\"u}z{\"u}n and Judith Warnau and Shailesh Tripathi and Nadine Bachmann and Thienemann, \{Ann Kristin\} and Manuel Brunner and Herbert Jodlbauer",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 The Author(s).; 7th International Conference on Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing, former International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing ; Conference date: 12-11-2025 Through 14-11-2025",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.364",

language = "English",

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T1 - From Conceptual Silos to a Circular Economy

T2 - 7th International Conference on Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing, former International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing

AU - Tüzün, Alican

AU - Warnau, Judith

AU - Tripathi, Shailesh

AU - Bachmann, Nadine

AU - Thienemann, Ann Kristin

AU - Brunner, Manuel

AU - Jodlbauer, Herbert

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - The European Union's Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a €1.8 trillion initiative to enable the circular economy, but its success depends on solving a fundamental paradox. The very ontologies designed to ensure interoperability are at risk of creating new "conceptual silos"because they lack a logically sound foundation, consequently risking the initiative. This paper argues that the solution lies in grounding DPP ontologies in a robust upper ontology like Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). Through a systematic analysis of the CIRPASS-2 Core Ontology, we reveal critical ambiguities - notably the conflation of physical processes with digital instructions - that make the current model inherently brittle. We then present a refined BFO-aligned framework that resolves these inconsistencies, providing the logically sound and interoperable foundation to transform the DPP from an ambitious, innovative vision into a functional, data-driven reality.

AB - The European Union's Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a €1.8 trillion initiative to enable the circular economy, but its success depends on solving a fundamental paradox. The very ontologies designed to ensure interoperability are at risk of creating new "conceptual silos"because they lack a logically sound foundation, consequently risking the initiative. This paper argues that the solution lies in grounding DPP ontologies in a robust upper ontology like Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). Through a systematic analysis of the CIRPASS-2 Core Ontology, we reveal critical ambiguities - notably the conflation of physical processes with digital instructions - that make the current model inherently brittle. We then present a refined BFO-aligned framework that resolves these inconsistencies, providing the logically sound and interoperable foundation to transform the DPP from an ambitious, innovative vision into a functional, data-driven reality.

KW - Basic Formal Ontology (BFO)

KW - Circular Economy

KW - CIRPASS-2

KW - Digital Product Passport (DPP)

KW - Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

KW - Ontology Engineering

KW - Semantic Interoperability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105040187684

U2 - 10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.364

DO - 10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.364

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:105040187684

SN - 1877-0509

VL - 277

SP - 3277

EP - 3286

JO - Procedia Computer Science

JF - Procedia Computer Science

Y2 - 12 November 2025 through 14 November 2025

ER -

From Conceptual Silos to a Circular Economy: The BFO-Based Framework for the Digital Product Passport

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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