The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is a standardised digital representation of a physical product, designed to make information about it accessible and exchangeable throughout its lifecycle. It is increasingly being discussed as a potential building block for the European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP).
Developed through the Industrie 4.0 initiative in Germany, the AAS provides a common structure for storing and sharing product information in a machine-readable format. It is standardised under IEC 63278 and supported by the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA).
At its simplest, an AAS acts as a digital identity for a product, linking it to a collection of information known as submodels. Each submodel describes a particular aspect of the asset. These might include its technical specifications, manufacturer, material composition, carbon footprint, maintenance requirements, repair instructions and end-of-life arrangements.
For a lighting manufacturer, this could mean creating a digital record for an individual luminaire containing details of its aluminium housing, plastic components, LED modules, drivers and other replaceable parts. Information could also cover recycled content, environmental declarations, disassembly instructions and the availability of replacement components.
The structure is modular, allowing information to be added or updated as a product moves from manufacture and installation through maintenance, refurbishment, reuse and eventual recycling. Different users can access relevant information according to their permissions.
Importantly, the AAS is not itself a Digital Product Passport or a regulatory requirement. Rather, it provides an interoperable technical framework through which product information can be organised and supplied to a DPP. The IDTA is developing specifications to align the two systems.
For the lighting industry, the potential benefit is better access to reliable product data across the supply chain. This could help building owners, contractors, maintenance teams and recyclers identify components, extend product lifetimes and recover valuable materials, supporting the transition towards a more circular lighting economy.
• Diary date: Circular Lighting Live 2027 takes place on Thursday 7 October 2027 in the City of London. It’s Recolight’s flagship event, comprising a two-track conference, exhibition and awards celebrating innovations in sustainable lighting.
