TrusTrace, a software-as-a-service (SaaS)company with a platform for product traceability and compliance, announced its participation in the Trace4Value project, in which TrusTrace will pilot a solution for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) to enable sustainability through transparency.
The pilot will be in line with the European Union Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles that calls for DPPs to be mandatory on textiles sold in Europe by 2030. The DPP goal is to encourage sustainable production, enable the transition to a circular economy and help consumers make more sustainable choices.
“Our goal is to effectively test how a DPP can function in practice – and prepare for future implementation,” said TrusTrace Co-Founder and CEO Shameek Ghosh. “TrusTrace is uniquely positioned to pioneer this practice based on the in-depth experience we have helping brands map and trace their supply chains. Working together with dozens of industry leaders, the Trace4Value project will allow us to investigate the opportunities and challenges that the DPP will entail for textile and fashion companies, ultimately helping the entire industry comply with this new directive before 2030.”
The project is partly funded by Vinnova and coordinated by RISE Research Institute of Sweden. The partners working on the DPP project include TrusTrace, Marimekko, Kappahl, Elis, SIS Swedish Institute for Standards, GS1 Sweden, TEXroad Foundation, Circularista, 2bPolicy, Trimco Group, Rudholm and Haak and Aalto University. The broader Trace4Value project covers more than 65 partners, focusing on traceability and data-sharing across various industries.
The Trace4Value DPP will be tested by tagging selected Kappahl and Marimekko pilot products in production with an ID carrier on the products that store prioritized supply chain and transparency data. Then, through a QR code, product information can be accessed using a mobile device. The DPP will be based on global standards to ensure interoperability and seamless information sharing with all stakeholders in the value chain.
In addition to developing the consumer-facing interface that provides product data, TrusTrace has in collaboration with the partners developed a data protocol that prioritizes information for the DPP based on supply chain data and legislation. Data will include a Global Trade Identification Number, relevant commodity codes, compliance documents, substances of concern, information about the manufacturer, and more.
The pilot project lays a foundation for standard setting and enables companies to get a better grasp of what the DPP will entail.
The DPP requirements are being developed by the European Commission as part of its broader strategy to create a more sustainable and circular economy in Europe. The DPP requirements are part of the Eco-design for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR) which in turn is part of the European Green Deal nestled under the Sustainable Textile Strategy.
The DPP also is linked closely to the Circular Economy Action Plan which promotes a circular economy in Europe by reducing waste and ensuring that products and materials are reused and recycled as much as possible. The DPP provides information on the environmental impact and traceability of products, while the Ecodesign Regulation sets minimum environmental requirements for products.
Together, they encourage manufacturers to design more sustainable and resource-efficient products, which can help reduce the environmental footprint of products throughout their lifecycle.
Visit www.trustrace.com to learn more.
