As part of the the Trace4Value project, Stockholm-based TrusTrace will pilot a solution for Digital Product Passports (DPPs).

The pilot will be in line with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles that calls for DPPs to be mandatory on textiles sold in Europe by 2030.

“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 gained in 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 DPPs 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 the RISE Research Institute of Sweden. Other partners include Marimekko, Kappahl, Elis, the SIS Swedish Institute for Standards, GS1 Sweden, TEXroad Foundation, Circularista, 2bPolicy, Trimco Group, Rudholm and Haak and Aalto University.

The Trace4Value DPP will be tested by tagging selected Kappahl and Marimekko pilot products in production, with an ID carrier that stores prioritised supply chain and transparency data.

Through a QR code, product information can then be accessed instantly using a mobile device. The DPP will be based on current 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, a data protocol has been developed that effectively prioritises information for the DPP based on supply chain data and legislations. Data will include a Global Trade Identification Number, relevant commodity codes, compliance documents, substances of concern and information about the manufacturer.

“There are no standard data protocols for this regulation yet, so we have developed a one that is available for download at the TrusTrace and Trace4Value web pages,” Ghosh said. “We are not creating a separate standard, but testing and learning, and the protocol will be continuously updated as the details on the EU regulation take shape. The protocol has been designed to be flexible to ensure we can adapt to all the changes coming in the future.”

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