diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b8a18c94e1..6a1cdcd86c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ spec:
 EOF
 ```
 
+When using sidecar mode the OpenTelemetry collector container will have the environment variable `OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES`set with Kubernetes resource attributes, ready to be consumed by the [resourcedetection](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/tree/main/processor/resourcedetectionprocessor) processor.
+
 ### OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation injection
 
 The operator can inject and configure OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation libraries. Currently Java, NodeJS and Python are supported.
diff --git a/pkg/constants/env.go b/pkg/constants/env.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c4070905c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/constants/env.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package constants
+
+const (
+	EnvOTELServiceName          = "OTEL_SERVICE_NAME"
+	EnvOTELExporterOTLPEndpoint = "OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT"
+	EnvOTELResourceAttrs        = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES"
+	EnvOTELPropagators          = "OTEL_PROPAGATORS"
+	EnvOTELTracesSampler        = "OTEL_TRACES_SAMPLER"
+	EnvOTELTracesSamplerArg     = "OTEL_TRACES_SAMPLER_ARG"
+
+	EnvPodName  = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_POD_NAME"
+	EnvPodUID   = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_POD_UID"
+	EnvNodeName = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_NODE_NAME"
+)
diff --git a/pkg/instrumentation/sdk.go b/pkg/instrumentation/sdk.go
index 161e08ad29..a5bf12e656 100644
--- a/pkg/instrumentation/sdk.go
+++ b/pkg/instrumentation/sdk.go
@@ -31,22 +31,12 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/apis/v1alpha1"
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/pkg/constants"
 )
 
 const (
 	volumeName        = "opentelemetry-auto-instrumentation"
 	initContainerName = "opentelemetry-auto-instrumentation"
-
-	envOTELServiceName          = "OTEL_SERVICE_NAME"
-	envOTELExporterOTLPEndpoint = "OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT"
-	envOTELResourceAttrs        = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES"
-	envOTELPropagators          = "OTEL_PROPAGATORS"
-	envOTELTracesSampler        = "OTEL_TRACES_SAMPLER"
-	envOTELTracesSamplerArg     = "OTEL_TRACES_SAMPLER_ARG"
-
-	envPodName  = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_POD_NAME"
-	envPodUID   = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_POD_UID"
-	envNodeName = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_NODE_NAME"
 )
 
 // inject a new sidecar container to the given pod, based on the given OpenTelemetryCollector.
@@ -101,18 +91,18 @@ func (i *sdkInjector) injectCommonEnvVar(otelinst v1alpha1.Instrumentation, pod
 func (i *sdkInjector) injectCommonSDKConfig(ctx context.Context, otelinst v1alpha1.Instrumentation, ns corev1.Namespace, pod corev1.Pod) corev1.Pod {
 	container := &pod.Spec.Containers[0]
 	resourceMap := i.createResourceMap(ctx, otelinst, ns, pod)
-	idx := getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, envOTELServiceName)
+	idx := getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, constants.EnvOTELServiceName)
 	if idx == -1 {
 		container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-			Name:  envOTELServiceName,
+			Name:  constants.EnvOTELServiceName,
 			Value: chooseServiceName(pod, resourceMap),
 		})
 	}
 	if otelinst.Spec.Exporter.Endpoint != "" {
-		idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, envOTELExporterOTLPEndpoint)
+		idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, constants.EnvOTELExporterOTLPEndpoint)
 		if idx == -1 {
 			container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-				Name:  envOTELExporterOTLPEndpoint,
+				Name:  constants.EnvOTELExporterOTLPEndpoint,
 				Value: otelinst.Spec.Endpoint,
 			})
 		}
@@ -121,45 +111,45 @@ func (i *sdkInjector) injectCommonSDKConfig(ctx context.Context, otelinst v1alph
 	// Some attributes might be empty, we should get them via k8s downward API
 	if resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SPodNameKey)] == "" {
 		container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-			Name: envPodName,
+			Name: constants.EnvPodName,
 			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
 				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
 					FieldPath: "metadata.name",
 				},
 			},
 		})
-		resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SPodNameKey)] = fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", envPodName)
+		resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SPodNameKey)] = fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", constants.EnvPodName)
 	}
 	if otelinst.Spec.Resource.AddK8sUIDAttributes {
 		if resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SPodUIDKey)] == "" {
 			container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-				Name: envPodUID,
+				Name: constants.EnvPodUID,
 				ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
 					FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
 						FieldPath: "metadata.uid",
 					},
 				},
 			})
-			resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SPodUIDKey)] = fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", envPodUID)
+			resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SPodUIDKey)] = fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", constants.EnvPodUID)
 		}
 	}
 	if resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SNodeNameKey)] == "" {
 		container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-			Name: envNodeName,
+			Name: constants.EnvNodeName,
 			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
 				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
 					FieldPath: "spec.nodeName",
 				},
 			},
 		})
-		resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SNodeNameKey)] = fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", envNodeName)
+		resourceMap[string(semconv.K8SNodeNameKey)] = fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", constants.EnvNodeName)
 	}
 
-	idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, envOTELResourceAttrs)
+	idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, constants.EnvOTELResourceAttrs)
 	resStr := resourceMapToStr(resourceMap)
 	if idx == -1 {
 		container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-			Name:  envOTELResourceAttrs,
+			Name:  constants.EnvOTELResourceAttrs,
 			Value: resStr,
 		})
 	} else {
@@ -169,27 +159,27 @@ func (i *sdkInjector) injectCommonSDKConfig(ctx context.Context, otelinst v1alph
 		container.Env[idx].Value += resStr
 	}
 
-	idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, envOTELPropagators)
+	idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, constants.EnvOTELPropagators)
 	if idx == -1 && len(otelinst.Spec.Propagators) > 0 {
 		propagators := *(*[]string)((unsafe.Pointer(&otelinst.Spec.Propagators)))
 		container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-			Name:  envOTELPropagators,
+			Name:  constants.EnvOTELPropagators,
 			Value: strings.Join(propagators, ","),
 		})
 	}
 
-	idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, envOTELTracesSampler)
+	idx = getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, constants.EnvOTELTracesSampler)
 	// configure sampler only if it is configured in the CR
 	if idx == -1 && otelinst.Spec.Sampler.Type != "" {
-		idxSamplerArg := getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, envOTELTracesSamplerArg)
+		idxSamplerArg := getIndexOfEnv(container.Env, constants.EnvOTELTracesSamplerArg)
 		if idxSamplerArg == -1 {
 			container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-				Name:  envOTELTracesSampler,
+				Name:  constants.EnvOTELTracesSampler,
 				Value: string(otelinst.Spec.Sampler.Type),
 			})
 			if otelinst.Spec.Sampler.Argument != "" {
 				container.Env = append(container.Env, corev1.EnvVar{
-					Name:  envOTELTracesSamplerArg,
+					Name:  constants.EnvOTELTracesSamplerArg,
 					Value: otelinst.Spec.Sampler.Argument,
 				})
 			}
@@ -223,7 +213,7 @@ func chooseServiceName(pod corev1.Pod, resources map[string]string) string {
 func (i *sdkInjector) createResourceMap(ctx context.Context, otelinst v1alpha1.Instrumentation, ns corev1.Namespace, pod corev1.Pod) map[string]string {
 	// get existing resources env var and parse it into a map
 	existingRes := map[string]bool{}
-	existingResourceEnvIdx := getIndexOfEnv(pod.Spec.Containers[0].Env, envOTELResourceAttrs)
+	existingResourceEnvIdx := getIndexOfEnv(pod.Spec.Containers[0].Env, constants.EnvOTELResourceAttrs)
 	if existingResourceEnvIdx > -1 {
 		existingResArr := strings.Split(pod.Spec.Containers[0].Env[existingResourceEnvIdx].Value, ",")
 		for _, kv := range existingResArr {
diff --git a/pkg/sidecar/attributes.go b/pkg/sidecar/attributes.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e40492f786
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/sidecar/attributes.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+// Package sidecar contains operations related to sidecar manipulation (Add, update, remove).
+package sidecar
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
+	semconv "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.7.0"
+	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/pkg/constants"
+)
+
+const resourceAttributesEnvName = "OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES"
+
+type podReferences struct {
+	replicaset *appsv1.ReplicaSet
+	deployment *appsv1.Deployment
+}
+
+// getResourceAttributesEnv returns a list of environment variables. The list contains OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES and additional environment variables that use Kubernetes downward API to read pod specification.
+// see: https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/inject-data-application/environment-variable-expose-pod-information/
+func getResourceAttributesEnv(ns corev1.Namespace, podReferences podReferences) []corev1.EnvVar {
+
+	var envvars []corev1.EnvVar
+
+	attributes := map[attribute.Key]string{
+		semconv.K8SPodNameKey:       fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", constants.EnvPodName),
+		semconv.K8SPodUIDKey:        fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", constants.EnvPodUID),
+		semconv.K8SNodeNameKey:      fmt.Sprintf("$(%s)", constants.EnvNodeName),
+		semconv.K8SNamespaceNameKey: ns.Name,
+	}
+
+	if podReferences.deployment != nil {
+		attributes[semconv.K8SDeploymentUIDKey] = string(podReferences.deployment.UID)
+		attributes[semconv.K8SDeploymentNameKey] = string(podReferences.deployment.Name)
+	}
+
+	if podReferences.replicaset != nil {
+		attributes[semconv.K8SReplicaSetUIDKey] = string(podReferences.replicaset.UID)
+		attributes[semconv.K8SReplicaSetNameKey] = string(podReferences.replicaset.Name)
+	}
+
+	envvars = append(envvars, corev1.EnvVar{
+		Name: constants.EnvPodName,
+		ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+			FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+				FieldPath: "metadata.name",
+			},
+		},
+	})
+
+	envvars = append(envvars, corev1.EnvVar{
+		Name: constants.EnvPodUID,
+		ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+			FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+				FieldPath: "metadata.uid",
+			},
+		},
+	})
+
+	envvars = append(envvars, corev1.EnvVar{
+		Name: constants.EnvNodeName,
+		ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+			FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+				FieldPath: "spec.nodeName",
+			},
+		},
+	})
+
+	envvars = append(envvars, corev1.EnvVar{
+		Name:  resourceAttributesEnvName,
+		Value: mapToValue(attributes),
+	})
+
+	return envvars
+}
+
+func mapToValue(attributesMap map[attribute.Key]string) string {
+	var parts []string
+
+	// Sort it to make it predictable
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(attributesMap))
+	for k := range attributesMap {
+		keys = append(keys, string(k))
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%s=%s", key, attributesMap[attribute.Key(key)]))
+	}
+	return strings.Join(parts, ",")
+}
+
+// check if container doesn't have already the OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES, we don't want to override it if it's already specified.
+func hasResourceAttributeEnvVar(envvars []corev1.EnvVar) bool {
+	for _, env := range envvars {
+		if env.Name == resourceAttributesEnvName {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sidecar/attributes_test.go b/pkg/sidecar/attributes_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b8dc62f58b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/sidecar/attributes_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package sidecar
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	semconv "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.7.0"
+	appv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/pkg/constants"
+)
+
+func TestGetAttributesEnvNoPodReferences(t *testing.T) {
+	ns := corev1.Namespace{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name: "my-ns",
+		},
+	}
+	references := podReferences{}
+	envs := getResourceAttributesEnv(ns, references)
+
+	expectedEnv := []corev1.EnvVar{
+		{
+			Name: constants.EnvPodName,
+			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+					FieldPath: "metadata.name",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: constants.EnvPodUID,
+			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+					FieldPath: "metadata.uid",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: constants.EnvNodeName,
+			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+					FieldPath: "spec.nodeName",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: resourceAttributesEnvName,
+			Value: fmt.Sprintf("%s=my-ns,%s=$(%s),%s=$(%s),%s=$(%s)",
+				semconv.K8SNamespaceNameKey,
+				semconv.K8SNodeNameKey,
+				constants.EnvNodeName,
+				semconv.K8SPodNameKey,
+				constants.EnvPodName,
+				semconv.K8SPodUIDKey,
+				constants.EnvPodUID,
+			),
+		},
+	}
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expectedEnv, envs)
+}
+
+func TestGetAttributesEnvWithPodReferences(t *testing.T) {
+	ns := corev1.Namespace{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name: "my-ns",
+		},
+	}
+	references := podReferences{
+		deployment: &appv1.Deployment{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				Name: "my-deployment",
+				UID:  "uuid-dep",
+			},
+		},
+		replicaset: &appv1.ReplicaSet{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				Name: "my-replicaset",
+				UID:  "uuid-replicaset",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	envs := getResourceAttributesEnv(ns, references)
+
+	expectedEnv := []corev1.EnvVar{
+		{
+			Name: constants.EnvPodName,
+			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+					FieldPath: "metadata.name",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: constants.EnvPodUID,
+			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+					FieldPath: "metadata.uid",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: constants.EnvNodeName,
+			ValueFrom: &corev1.EnvVarSource{
+				FieldRef: &corev1.ObjectFieldSelector{
+					FieldPath: "spec.nodeName",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: resourceAttributesEnvName,
+			Value: fmt.Sprintf("%s=my-deployment,%s=uuid-dep,%s=my-ns,%s=$(%s),%s=$(%s),%s=$(%s),%s=my-replicaset,%s=uuid-replicaset",
+				semconv.K8SDeploymentNameKey,
+				semconv.K8SDeploymentUIDKey,
+				semconv.K8SNamespaceNameKey,
+				semconv.K8SNodeNameKey,
+				constants.EnvNodeName,
+				semconv.K8SPodNameKey,
+				constants.EnvPodName,
+				semconv.K8SPodUIDKey,
+				constants.EnvPodUID,
+				semconv.K8SReplicaSetNameKey,
+				semconv.K8SReplicaSetUIDKey,
+			),
+		},
+	}
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expectedEnv, envs)
+}
+
+func TestHasResourceAttributeEnvVar(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		desc     string
+		expected bool
+		env      []corev1.EnvVar
+	}{
+		{
+			"has-attributes", true, []corev1.EnvVar{
+				{
+					Name: resourceAttributesEnvName,
+					Value: fmt.Sprintf("%s=my-deployment,%s=uuid-dep,%s=my-ns,%s=$(%s),%s=$(%s),%s=$(%s),%s=my-replicaset,%s=uuid-replicaset",
+						semconv.K8SDeploymentNameKey,
+						semconv.K8SDeploymentUIDKey,
+						semconv.K8SNamespaceNameKey,
+						semconv.K8SNodeNameKey,
+						constants.EnvNodeName,
+						semconv.K8SPodNameKey,
+						constants.EnvPodName,
+						semconv.K8SPodUIDKey,
+						constants.EnvPodUID,
+						semconv.K8SReplicaSetNameKey,
+						semconv.K8SReplicaSetUIDKey,
+					),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+
+		{
+			"does-not-have-attributes", false, []corev1.EnvVar{
+				{
+					Name:  "other_env",
+					Value: "other_value",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, hasResourceAttributeEnvVar(tt.env))
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sidecar/pod.go b/pkg/sidecar/pod.go
index 475b5828a8..593d3d0c3a 100644
--- a/pkg/sidecar/pod.go
+++ b/pkg/sidecar/pod.go
@@ -32,10 +32,13 @@ const (
 )
 
 // add a new sidecar container to the given pod, based on the given OpenTelemetryCollector.
-func add(cfg config.Config, logger logr.Logger, otelcol v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector, pod corev1.Pod) (corev1.Pod, error) {
+func add(cfg config.Config, logger logr.Logger, otelcol v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector, pod corev1.Pod, attributes []corev1.EnvVar) (corev1.Pod, error) {
 	// add the container
 	volumes := collector.Volumes(cfg, otelcol)
 	container := collector.Container(cfg, logger, otelcol)
+	if !hasResourceAttributeEnvVar(container.Env) {
+		container.Env = append(container.Env, attributes...)
+	}
 	pod.Spec.Containers = append(pod.Spec.Containers, container)
 	pod.Spec.Volumes = append(pod.Spec.Volumes, volumes...)
 
diff --git a/pkg/sidecar/pod_test.go b/pkg/sidecar/pod_test.go
index a0e36e9799..43dec668cd 100644
--- a/pkg/sidecar/pod_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sidecar/pod_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func TestAddSidecarWhenNoSidecarExists(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg := config.New(config.WithCollectorImage("some-default-image"))
 
 	// test
-	changed, err := add(cfg, logger, otelcol, pod)
+	changed, err := add(cfg, logger, otelcol, pod, nil)
 
 	// verify
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestAddSidecarWhenOneExistsAlready(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg := config.New(config.WithCollectorImage("some-default-image"))
 
 	// test
-	changed, err := add(cfg, logger, otelcol, pod)
+	changed, err := add(cfg, logger, otelcol, pod, nil)
 
 	// verify
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -145,3 +145,37 @@ func TestExistsIn(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestAddSidecarWithAditionalEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	// prepare
+	pod := corev1.Pod{
+		Spec: corev1.PodSpec{
+			Containers: []corev1.Container{
+				{Name: "my-app"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	otelcol := v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:      "otelcol-sample",
+			Namespace: "some-app",
+		},
+	}
+	cfg := config.New(config.WithCollectorImage("some-default-image"))
+
+	extraEnv := corev1.EnvVar{
+		Name:  "extraenv",
+		Value: "extravalue",
+	}
+
+	// test
+	changed, err := add(cfg, logger, otelcol, pod, []corev1.EnvVar{
+		extraEnv,
+	})
+
+	// verify
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, changed.Spec.Containers, 2)
+	assert.Contains(t, changed.Spec.Containers[1].Env, extraEnv)
+
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sidecar/podmutator.go b/pkg/sidecar/podmutator.go
index e951dd6d14..f7d0f6a713 100644
--- a/pkg/sidecar/podmutator.go
+++ b/pkg/sidecar/podmutator.go
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -68,7 +70,6 @@ func (p *sidecarPodMutator) Mutate(ctx context.Context, ns corev1.Namespace, pod
 	}
 
 	// from this point and on, a sidecar is wanted
-
 	// check whether there's a sidecar already -- return the same pod if that's the case.
 	if existsIn(pod) {
 		logger.V(1).Info("pod already has sidecar in it, skipping injection")
@@ -88,10 +89,15 @@ func (p *sidecarPodMutator) Mutate(ctx context.Context, ns corev1.Namespace, pod
 		return pod, err
 	}
 
+	// getting pod references, if any
+	references := p.podReferences(ctx, pod.OwnerReferences, ns)
+	attributes := getResourceAttributesEnv(ns, references)
+
 	// once it's been determined that a sidecar is desired, none exists yet, and we know which instance it should talk to,
 	// we should add the sidecar.
 	logger.V(1).Info("injecting sidecar into pod", "otelcol-namespace", otelcol.Namespace, "otelcol-name", otelcol.Name)
-	return add(p.config, p.logger, otelcol, pod)
+
+	return add(p.config, p.logger, otelcol, pod, attributes)
 }
 
 func (p *sidecarPodMutator) getCollectorInstance(ctx context.Context, ns corev1.Namespace, ann string) (v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector, error) {
@@ -138,3 +144,49 @@ func (p *sidecarPodMutator) selectCollectorInstance(ctx context.Context, ns core
 		return sidecars[0], nil
 	}
 }
+
+func (p *sidecarPodMutator) podReferences(ctx context.Context, ownerReferences []metav1.OwnerReference, ns corev1.Namespace) podReferences {
+	references := &podReferences{}
+	replicaSet := p.getReplicaSetReference(ctx, ownerReferences, ns)
+	if replicaSet != nil {
+		references.replicaset = replicaSet
+		deployment := p.getDeploymentReference(ctx, replicaSet)
+		if deployment != nil {
+			references.deployment = deployment
+		}
+	}
+	return *references
+}
+
+func (p *sidecarPodMutator) getReplicaSetReference(ctx context.Context, ownerReferences []metav1.OwnerReference, ns corev1.Namespace) *appsv1.ReplicaSet {
+	replicaSetName := findOwnerReferenceKind(ownerReferences, "ReplicaSet")
+	if replicaSetName != "" {
+		replicaSet := &appsv1.ReplicaSet{}
+		err := p.client.Get(ctx, types.NamespacedName{Name: replicaSetName, Namespace: ns.Name}, replicaSet)
+		if err == nil {
+			return replicaSet
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (p *sidecarPodMutator) getDeploymentReference(ctx context.Context, replicaSet *appsv1.ReplicaSet) *appsv1.Deployment {
+	deploymentName := findOwnerReferenceKind(replicaSet.OwnerReferences, "Deployment")
+	if deploymentName != "" {
+		deployment := &appsv1.Deployment{}
+		err := p.client.Get(ctx, types.NamespacedName{Name: deploymentName, Namespace: replicaSet.Namespace}, deployment)
+		if err == nil {
+			return deployment
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func findOwnerReferenceKind(references []metav1.OwnerReference, kind string) string {
+	for _, reference := range references {
+		if reference.Kind == kind {
+			return reference.Name
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/smoke-sidecar/01-assert.yaml b/tests/e2e/smoke-sidecar/01-assert.yaml
index 40a7b819bc..358711a288 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/smoke-sidecar/01-assert.yaml
+++ b/tests/e2e/smoke-sidecar/01-assert.yaml
@@ -9,5 +9,11 @@ spec:
   containers:
   - name: myapp
   - name: otc-container
+    env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+    - name: OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_POD_NAME
+    - name: OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_POD_UID
+    - name: OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES_NODE_NAME
+    - name: OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES
 status:
   phase: Running