In a bid to revolutionize the fashion industry’s approach to sustainability, TrusTrace, a global SaaS company specializing in supply chain traceability and compliance, has unveiled its latest initiative: the release of the “Unlocking DPP: The Why, What and How of Digital Product Passports” playbook. This comprehensive guide, launched at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, marks a milestone in the journey towards a more transparent, eco-conscious fashion landscape.
Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are poised to become a cornerstone of sustainable fashion practices, particularly with the impending mandate set to be enforced in the European Union. TrusTrace recognizes the complexities surrounding the implementation of DPPs and aims to demystify this process through its playbook, offering invaluable insights and practical strategies for industry professionals.
“As the industry shifts from minimal regulation to a significant surge in both the volume and intricacy of global laws, it’s clear that the potential for it to become overwhelming is palpable,” says TrusTrace CEO and Co-Founder Shameek Ghosh. “The DPP is no exception, as its extensive data demands on a per-product basis will necessitate gathering and validating data that has historically been hard to access.”
“Nevertheless, true visionaries can look beyond the immediate disruptions and challenges and recognize the potential this data holds,” adds Ghosh. “The possession of detailed supply chain data empowers brands to adopt a proactive stance, enabling them to maintain control rather than being caught off guard by the inevitable disruptions. DPPs serve as a critical element in constructing the data, insights, and infrastructure necessary to drive a truly circular economy, as well as unlocking novel business opportunities, but how to effectively create and implement them is not clear today. This is what we are aiming to clarify in this book.”
Authored by respected journalist Brooke Roberts-Islam, the playbook delves into the fundamental aspects of DPPs, beginning with ‘The Why.’ It elucidates the necessity of DPPs within the context of evolving EU legislation and underscores their pivotal role in achieving the region’s ambitious target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Furthermore, the playbook sheds light on the critical data gaps within current systems and elucidates how DPPs will address these by facilitating the collection and dissemination of circularity data.
Moving on to ‘The What,’ the playbook provides a comprehensive overview of the scope and implications of DPPs for fashion industry stakeholders. It offers guidance on navigating the intricacies of DPP preparation, equipping brands with the necessary tools to embrace this transformative technology effectively.
However, it is in ‘The How’ section that the playbook truly distinguishes itself as an indispensable resource. Drawing from the Trace4Value project, a pioneering DPP pilot spearheaded by TrusTrace, this segment offers practical steps for data collection and DPP implementation. The project, which embedded DPP carriers with live data into selected products from leading brands like Kappahl and Marimekko, serves as a real-world demonstration of the feasibility and benefits of adopting DPPs.
