Within the DiNaPro research project, a new publication entitled “Using the Integral Digital Twin for Product Carbon Footprint calculation” has been published. This work introduces the concept of the Integral Digital Twin (IDT) for data-driven sustainability. The IDT offers multiple interfaces for horizontal communication with customers and suppliers, as well as vertical communication within a company's information systems, and integrates various Digital Twins from the product lifecycle.

The core of the IDT is a data model that facilitates the management and distribution of sustainability-relevant data, such as the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), throughout the entire product lifecycle. In contrast to conventional methods, the IDT enables continuous and automated data availability, as well as flexible sustainability monitoring at various levels. This allows companies to identify and implement potential improvements early on.

The concept is validated by the example module “pen holder,” which was manufactured in 28 different variants within the project in the factories of TU Darmstadt.

Read the full publication here: Link to publication