C-1. Where to begin as a company?
Section outline
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Aaron Shum (PUMA) provides a step-by-step guide for implementing chemicals traceability based on the approach used by PUMA and their learning so far. This actionable input helps companies getting started and navigating the process.
Access to the presentation slides here.
Access to the video script here.
To learn more about what the company is doing for Chemic PUMA Chemical Standards Handbook 2023
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The status-quo analysis from Milena Amaral (NEOVILI) provides a comprehensive overview of the current practices and challenges regarding chemicals traceability both in textile apparel and carpets.
Access to the full PDF report which allows for a deep-dive into the data.
Access to the video script.
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The Theory of Change presented in this document is a co-creative result of the ECHT project consortium.
2025
Source: https://knowledge.trace-chemicals.eu/mod/resource/view.php?id=367
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"Empowered by Transparency" is the progressive scenario story derived from a six-month co-creative process with actors from textile industry, NGOs, academic and public sector. The story illustrates the status-quo in 2040 and shows to what extent and how traceability of chemicals can be set in place, who needs to be involved and what the specific benefits including business models might be. This story was chosen to be the goal scenario for the ECHT project unanimously by all project partners involved in the process. It also represents that impact aimed for in the theory of change.
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"No P(l)ace for Trace" is the conservative and less-inspiring scenario story derived from a six-month co-creative process with actors from textile industry, NGOs, academic and public sector. The story illustrates a status-quo in 2040 where things mainly stated the same and no substantial progress was made regarding chemicals traceability. This story was explicitely dismissed as goal scenario for the ECHT project unanomously by all project partners involved in the process.
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This list indicates all 16 influencing factors identified during the scenario process of the ECHT project. They ware found to be the key leverage points for advancing or hindering chemicals traceability in global textile value chains.
Source: Glossary influencing factors
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Enhesa is an american firm specialised in compliance in sustainibility. They provide tools and resources for various industry according to sector-specific requirements.
See the fastest and easiest way to proactive chemical hazard assessment.Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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bluesign technologies is led by a dynamic group of individuals with many years of experience in the textile and chemical industries. The management uses its experience and expertise to enhance the manufacturing processes of its customers, while cultivating a positive movement toward sustainability in the textile industry.
The bluesign® SYSTEM BLACK LIMITS (BSBL) specify threshold limits for chemical substances in finished chemical products, such as auxiliaries or dyes. The compilation of substances in the BSBL is an extract of the bluesign® TOOL. It includes all substances from the publicly available bluesign® system substances list (BSSL), consumer safety limits in which the consumer safety limits for usage bans are defined. BSBL is revised at least once a year.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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The ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) is a list of chemical substances banned from intentional use in the processing of textile materials, leather, rubber, foam, adhesives and trims used in textiles, apparel, and footwear industry. Intentional use means the substance used deliberately in a chemical product to achieve a desired look or functionality.
ZDHC publishes its guidelines publicly on the Roadmap to Zero website. These set of guidelines establish a framework for the industry to drive effective development and implementation of chemical management systems and processes.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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In support of a holistic approach to sustainable chemical management, the ZDHC Foundation has published the Commodity Chemicals Guide V1.0. This guide builds towards ZDHC's 2030 goal by encouraging the fashion industry to evaluate sellers of commodity chemicals such as sodium sulphate, ammonia or bleach, based on standard criteria, as well as engage in responsible purchasing and storage of such chemicals for the protection of workers, communities and the environment.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
May 2024
Source: https://downloads.roadmaptozero.com/input/commodity-chemicals-guide
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Implementing chemical traceability along global value chains is a complex and iterative process that requires a holistic understanding of current processes and goals in one’s organisation and the supply chain. To quickly cover all these topics in an easy-to-access manner, the “Chemicals Traceability Canvas for Textiles” proposes a structured path through the key stages and fields of implementing chemical traceability along textile value chains.
Access to the chemicals traceability canvas
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This training schemes concepts outlines the overall structure and content of a capacity building workshop series targeted at SMEs in the textile apparel value chains. It makes use of the tools and approaches developed in the ECHT project.
Access to the Concept for Training Schemes.
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"Trace-It" is a simulation game that allows players to step into the shoes of departments of organisations aiming to implement chemcials traceability. Throughout the game play, players will be confronted with various challenges that need to be solved as a team. The game can be played in workshops with representatives from different organisations (incl. industry, NGO and public sector) or inside one company.
Access to the Manual of the Trace-IT Game
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This paper reports on the insights and concepts generated during a policy workshop on 15th of October 2024 in Brussels. In this workshop representatives from textile and chemicals industry, NGOs, European Commission, European Parliament and Academia participated and contributed to this output.
January 2025
Access to the Policy workshop report
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Featured in this book is the 'Why' and 'What' of DPP, and for the first time, presents fashion brands and retailers with a proposal and guidelines for the 'How'. As the 'responsible economic operators' for complying with DPP, brands and retailers can, and should, begin preparing for DPP now, and this book is their essential guide.
Rôles: #manufacturer, #distributor, #economic operator, #DPP service provider, #policymakers
Source: https://trustrace.com/hubfs/TrusTrace-Unlocking-DPP.pdf
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The present report proposes a method for the definition and tracking of substances of concern in products (as defined in Article 2(27) of the ESPR) as well as for the assessment and preparation of potential restriction measures for substances impacting the product aspects listed in Article 5(1) of the ESPR. The method informs the setting of performance requirements and information requirements, when relevant for the product under study. The intended audience for this report is primarily members of teams who will be undertaking Preparatory Studies for ESPR product groups, including from the European Commission, as well as stakeholders.
Rôles: #manufacturer, #economic operator, #distributor
November 2025
Source: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143683
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This report presents a practical, step-by-step methodology to define a proposal of which data should be included in Digital Product Passports (DPPs) under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and why it should be included. It complements and extends existing ESPR methodological work by focusing on the semantic definition and prioritisation of DPP information requirements within the specific context of the DPP, while also systematically investigating current industry data collection and data-sharing practices across product value chains. The methodology translates policy objectives and use cases into structured data needs, distinguishing essential, strongly recommended and voluntary elements through a transparent value–effort and feasibility assessment grounded in real-world practices.
Rôles: #DPP service provider
March 2026
Source: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC145830
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Cirpass2 presents a proposal for a reference architecture for the EU DPP system. The proposal comes in two versions: 1) One proposal for the reference architecture of the DPP system; 2) One proposal for the simplest and lowest cost implementation of the EU DPP system, based only on well-established web technologies and services. Furthermore, a video presentation on the proposal is available.
Rôles: #manufacturer, #DPP service provider, #blockchain integrators, #distributor, #customer, #dealer
May 2025
Sources:
D4.1 Reference architecture: https://zenodo.org/records/15467720
The simplest DPP System Proposal – A thought experiment: https://zenodo.org/records/15367064
Video "CIRPASS-2 DPP system architecture (presentation by Huib van Nieuwenhuijze, TNO - October 3, 2025)": -
This report supports the implementation of ESPR by proposing a methodology to identify and rank improved design options for sustainable products. It expands existing approaches by considering system-level impacts and using tools such as life-cycle assessment and costing to evaluate environmental, economic, and societal performance.
Rôles: #Manufacturer, #Economic operator, #Distributor
December 2025
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The present report proposes a method for the definition and tracking of substances of concern in products (as defined in Article 2(27) of the ESPR) as well as for the assessment and preparation of potential restriction measures for substances impacting the product aspects listed in Article 5(1) of the ESPR. The method informs the setting of performance requirements and information requirements, when relevant for the product under study. The intended audience for this report is primarily members of teams who will be undertaking Preparatory Studies for ESPR product groups, including from the European Commission, as well as stakeholders.
Rôles: #Manufacturer, #Economic operator, #Distributor
November 2025
Source: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143683
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This academic article reviews existing research on the Digital Product Passport (DPP) in the textile industry, analysing how it can support traceability, lifecycle data sharing, and circular economy practices
2025
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This research article analyses the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a tool to improve circularity and sustainability in manufacturing, providing structured product lifecycle data to increase supply-chain transparency and resource efficiency
2024
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This research article analyses data requirements for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) to support decision-making across the product lifecycle in circular supply chains.
Through case studies and surveys with manufacturers and supply-chain actors, it identifies key data categories (e.g., product materials, maintenance, environmental data, logistics, and compliance) needed to enable reuse, repair, and recycling
2023
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550923000441
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This article studies the value ecosystem of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and models how different stakeholders (manufacturers, suppliers, consumers, regulators, recyclers) exchange data and value through DPP systems.
Using literature review and real DPP examples (e.g., the EU battery passport), it proposes an e³-value model showing how DPPs can improve transparency, regulatory compliance, and circular-economy practices
2025
Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jiec.13621?msockid=0f5dc9398fce6fd10317dc578eb76e8e
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Andrea Hernández Clausen (Scan Trust) illustrates how the service provider Scantrust facilitates the implementation of traceability and explains the overarching principles relevant to the concept of chemicals traceability in textiles.
Access to the video script here. -
Renan Nanini (H&M) outlines in this comprehensive presentation the current challenges regarding traceability from the perspective of a transnational organisation such as H&M. Interestingly, most challenges regarding chemicals traceability apply both to large enterprises as well as to SMEs.
To know more about the Sustainability Disclosure of this project's partner: H&M Group Sustainability Disclosure 2022
Access to the video script.
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Based on the Chemicals Traceability Canvas, fashion label "Nobody's Child" reflect on their current practices and future goals regarding chemicals traceability.
Access to the video script. -
Based on the Chemicals Traceability Canvas, fashion label "House of Baukjen" reflect on their current practises and future goals regarding chemicals traceability.
Access to the video script.
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Gain a deeper perspective on how to implement DPPs. Learn from experts who have piloted DPPs on real-life garments in the first textile-specific end-to-end case study for how to implement DPPs.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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The webinar presents how H&M and a group of Italian SMEs from the Prato district have organised themselves to replace harmful chemicals from their supply chains. Greenpeace presents their Detox campaign, the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) gives an overview of their available tools to help companies substitute and the European Textile and Apparel Confederation EURATEX) presents their activities in replacing harmful chemicals.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Enhesa is an american firm specialised in compliance in sustainability. They provide tools and resources for various industry according to sector-specific requirements. There may be problematic substances in your suppliers’ formulations that they can’t see. Watch this webinar to discover how to leverage best practices for assessing suppliers’ chemicals, understand how they can more effectively engage your supply chain and address common challenges for sustainable chemistry.
Rôles: #distributor, #dealer, #economic operator
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GS1 is a company providng barcode to industry of all sorts. Their standards are the most widely used system of standards in the world. The objective of the GS1 Global Traceability Standard (GTS) is to assist organisations and industries in the design and implementation of traceability systems based on the GS1 system of standards. At a strategic level, this standard aims to provide key insights and knowledge for organisations or industries that are developing long-term traceability goals.
Rôles: #manufacturer, #distributor, #economic operator
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StandICT.eu 2026’s principal goal is to strengthen its global reach in the European ICT Standardisation Ecosystem. StandICT.eu was asked by the European Commission to prepare a landscape of standards in view of the need of Digital Product Passports (DPP). So a Technical Working Group Digital Product Passport (TWG DPP) was established in September 2022.The created list covers now more than 200 open standards of international standards development organisations, which are made available or will be made available to the general public and are developed (or approved) and maintained via a collaborative and consensus driven process. In addition, the landscape of standards also includes initiatives on product circularity data, as harmonization and standardization facilitate the exchange and processing of information
Rôles: #manufacturer, #distributor, #economic operator, #DPP service providers
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OEKO-TEX® standards enable everyone to make responsible decisions and protect natural resources. Driven by sustainability and a dedication to transparency, our work is grounded in proven science. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is a label for textiles tested for harmful substances. It sets the benchmark for textile safety, from yarn to finished product. Every item bearing the STANDARD 100 label is certified as having passed safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.
Rôles: #manufacturer, #distributor, #economic operator, #policymakers
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OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is a label for textiles tested for harmful substances. It sets the benchmark for textile safety, from yarn to finished product. Every item bearing the STANDARD 100 label is certified as having passed safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.
Rôles: #Authorised representative, #Dealer, #Distributor, #Importer, #Manufacturer
March 2025
Sources:
- Standard OEKO-TEX - Edition 01.2026: https://www.oeko-tex.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Marketing_Materialien/STANDARD_100/Standard/OEKO-TEX_STANDARD100_Standard_EN.pdf
- Application for Active Chemical Products: Active Chemical Products/Acceptance in the OEKO‑TEX® list: https://www.oeko-tex.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Marketing_Materialien/ACP/OEKO-TEX_Application_for_Active_Chemical_Products_EN.pdf
- Standard OEKO-TEX - Edition 01.2026: https://www.oeko-tex.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Marketing_Materialien/STANDARD_100/Standard/OEKO-TEX_STANDARD100_Standard_EN.pdf
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OEKO-TEX® STeP certification sets the highest standards for both social and environmental aspects of textile and leather production, as well as for industrial laundries. This certification is a sign of responsibility towards employees and the environment, and supports a company’s journey towards more sustainable production.
Rôles: #Authorised representative, #Dealer, #Distributor, #Importer, #Manufacturer
February 2025
Source: https://www.oeko-tex.com/importedmedia/downloadfiles/OEKO-TEX_STeP_Standard_EN_DE.pdf
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This document updates the global standard for sustainable cotton production, strengthening focus on regenerative agriculture, climate change, and social impacts. It covers six principles, including soil health, water stewardship, and decent work, aiming to drive continuous improvement at the farm level.
Rôles: #Authorised representative, #Dealer, #Distributor, #Importer, #Manufacturer
March 2023
Source: Version 3.0: https://bettercotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Better-Cotton-PC-v.3.0.pdf
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The AFIRM Restricted Substances List (RSL) is a voluntary, annual, and free industry guide for apparel and footwear to limit hazardous chemicals. It covers apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textiles, aligning with global regulations. Key updates in 2026 include restricted acetophenone azine, tightened bisphenol limits, and expanded PFAS coverage.
2026
Source:
- restricted substances listhttps://afirm-group.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026_AFIRM_RSL_2026_0211b.pdf
- AFIRM chemistry toolkithttps://afirm-group.com/toolkit/
- restricted substances listhttps://afirm-group.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026_AFIRM_RSL_2026_0211b.pdf
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GS1 welcomes the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), entered into force on 18th July 2024, as a key pillar of the EU Circular Economy agenda and of the EU Green Deal. The ESPR introduces the Digital Product Passport for products and components being placed on the EU market. This paper aims to: 1. Explain the role of GS1 standards in supporting the implementation of the DPP. 2. Highlight the benefits of using ISO/IEC 15459 conformant GS1 identifiers for product identification, locations and entities in line with ESPR requirements. 3. Describe the GS1 data sharing principles and standards. 4. Outline the 2D barcode migration GS1 user companies are making to ensure one 2D barcode can support legacy supply chain applications, enhanced consumer communication, and regulatory compliance by 2027.
Rôles: #DPP service provider, #Economic operator
January 2025
Source: https://gs1.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GS1-Standards-Enabling-DPP.pdf
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Provides practical design-for-recycling rules, helps KP users benchmark packaging traceability
2024
Source: https://ceflex.eu/public_downloads/Designing_for_a_Circular_Economy_Dec23.pdf
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In this video (from the ECHT Traceability conference, on 19.11.2025), Laetitia Georgel from Terra Matters illustrates the functionality and use case of Product Circularity Data Sheets (PCDS). PCDS are standardised data sheets that comprise relevant information on the circularity of a certain product (e.g. materiality, recycability, etc.).
Access to the video script.
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The Circularity Dataset Initiative addresses the difficulty for industry and consumers to access reliable data on the circular properties of a product. Trade secrets are hindering transparency and reporting standards are lacking, forcing manufacturers to send out different data sets in diverse formats to customers and product platforms. The Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS) is a basic source of verifiable data. It can be used to establish how circular a product is and inform about the circular path it was designed and manufactured for. The PCDS offers a standardized format with trustful data without scoring or ranking of these aspects.
Rôles: #Manufacturer, #Economic operator, #Distributor, #DPP service provider
Source: https://pcds.lu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/20200214_Light_PCDS_v3.2s_FORM.pdf
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Enhesa is an american firm specialised in compliance in sustainibility. They provide tools and resources for various industry according to sector-specific requirements. There could be hidden chemical hazards that you’re not even aware of entering your products and processes. Get a first-hand look at how to identify and address these hazards with the trusted SciveraLENS® Connect and its new features!
Rôles: #distributor, #dealer, #economic operator
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The LIFE AskREACH project hosted a workshop with invited decision-makers and experts from EU industry and trade associations (raw materials, technology, furniture, foreign trade), market leader brands (textiles and furniture), EU administration and Member State authorities (Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Sweden), NGOs (waste and environment), and research. The workshop was intended to create a clearer picture of how the Green Deal policy instruments can contribute to a non-toxic, resource-preserving and climate neutral Circular Economy, and in particular the role oftraceability of chemicals as enabler. This report summarises the main outcomes of the workshop.
Rôles: #distributor, #economic operator, #manufacturer, #policymakers
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World Textile Information Network (WTiN) welcomes a new special guest from the textile & apparel industry every two weeks.
Interview with MeiLin Wan (founder/CEO of GenuTrace). They discuss how to build supply chain integrity via forensic testing, digital tools, proof‑points (e.g. stable isotopes for origin claims), product passports, etc.
Good for understanding how traceability is being operationalised, including chemical / origin proofs.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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World Textile Information Network (WTiN) welcomes a new special guest from the textile & apparel industry every two weeks.
Discusses Better Cotton’s traceability strategy launched in 2023, and how to trace cotton back to its country of origin. Valuable for natural fibres; often chemicals are applied during processing, so tracing fibre origin helps with tracing upstream chemical inputs.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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No Ordinary Cloth delve into the cutting-edge developments and innovations that redefine the very fabric of fashion and textiles.
Focus on tech (AI & ML) in factories to reduce waste and enhance traceability and sustainability. Helps see how digital/AI tools can support traceability (including chemical tracking, though maybe indirect).
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Traceability Journey is a project by The ID Factory. Their mission is to raise awareness about the importance of traceability for sustainable value chains. They are doing this by engaging with ESG consultants and sharing best practices from the fashion supply chain.
Deborah Taylor, CEO at Sustainable Leather Foundation and Consultant at United Nation Economic Commission for Europe, questioned how brands can concretely implement a sustainability change in fashion through traceability and transparency.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Deep-dive discussions and technology insights for fashion professionals, hosted by The Interline's Editor-in-Chief, Ben Hanson.
Discuss how technology can help in addressing some of the world's most pressing issues such as advancing sustainability, circularity, transparency, and much more.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Innovation Forum hosts a weekly podcast along with regular interviews with business leaders in sustainability
Explains how fashion companies can become ESPR compliant, outlining the main requirements of the Eco Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and its timelines, starting with the latest developments, and offers practical tips to help companies get started today.
World Textile Information Network (WTiN) welcomes a new special guest from the textile & apparel industry every two weeks.
Discusses Better Cotton’s traceability strategy launched in 2023, and how to trace cotton back to its country of origin. Valuable for natural fibres; often chemicals are applied during processing, so tracing fibre origin helps with tracing upstream chemical inputs.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Scandinavian MIND is a magazine and a platform covering the intersection of lifestyle and technology.
Looks at one of the pilot projects called Trace4Value in textiles, and discusses what has been learned so far in terms of data collection, stakeholder roles (manufacturers, brands, standard bodies), and challenges.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator, #DPP service provider, #customer
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Scandinavian MIND is a magazine and a platform covering the intersection of lifestyle and technology.
Exploring how fashion brands/retailers can get ready, especially in light of forthcoming EU regulation. Data sharing, technology infrastructure, those kinds of practical readiness topics.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator, #DPP service provider
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4TheRecord is a consultancy agency that is offering strategy consulting in the area of digital product passports and help your company collecting DPP verifiable information, e.g. the environmental footprint of a product.
In this series, there are episodes featuring practitioners & experts (e.g. Decathlon, RAIN Alliance) talking about implementing digital product passports in the textile / retail space: how data flows work, what identifiers are used, how interoperability and regulation are shaping what needs to be done.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator, #DPP service provider
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This episode provides a crash course to various circular economy assessment tools and a deep dive into Digital Product Passport.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Spherity is building decentralized identity-management solutions to power the 4th Industrial Revolution, bringing secure identities (“Digital Twins”) to humans, companies, products, or machines.
Focus on pioneers in the field: standards, how to define what DPPs should include, the use of digital IDs/standards in fashion/circular fashion. A good “vision + early practice” mix.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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Looks at EU regulation making DPPs mandatory for many goods and how this will affect retailers, brands, consumers. While not exclusively textiles, it gives a solid overview of what businesses in EU need to prepare for.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator, #customer
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4TheRecord is a DPP consultancy agency.
This podcast provides insights into the regulation, standardization, technical implementation, and industry adoption of digital product passports. This episode hosts Carolynn Bernier, Research Engineer at CEA (The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) and lead coordinator of the EU-funded CIRPASS Projects.
Rôles: #distributor, #manufacturer, #economic operator
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