**Geneva**: The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe partners with the International Standards Organisation to develop Digital Product Passports, aimed at improving traceability and transparency across industries. The initiative addresses interoperability challenges and strives for a unified framework to mitigate greenwashing issues by 2023.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has announced a collaborative initiative with the International Standards Organisation (ISO) focused on the development of Digital Product Passports (DPP). This effort aims to enhance the traceability of materials and improve transparency and sustainability within various industries, notably the textiles sector.
The decision to work together follows ISO research that highlighted stakeholder concerns regarding “interoperability challenges” while simultaneously revealing strong support for the establishment of global DPP standards, which governments worldwide can endorse. According to UNECE, DPPs are instrumental in providing crucial information about a product’s origins, materials composition, environmental impacts, and disposability, which could significantly mitigate issues related to greenwashing.
In a statement, UNECE stressed that the collaboration with ISO is intended to address the critical barriers of data standardization and interoperability, which have hindered the development of a unified, cross-sector framework. “Despite numerous initiatives around the world, challenges such as data standardization and interoperability remain critical barriers to creating a unified, cross-sector, and globally applicable framework,” the statement noted. Under the banner of the UN, the project aims to reconcile diverse interests and priorities while promoting alignment across industries and around the globe.
The project is expected to produce draft standards and recommendations by the end of 2023, reflecting what UNECE describes as an urgent need for a global framework. While the European Union has introduced the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation with provisions for follow-up legislation regarding DPPs, the UK government has not yet implemented similar measures. However, businesses in the UK that sell products into Europe will need to comply with these emerging standards.
Historically, UNECE has focused on traceability and transparency issues in the garments and footwear sectors since 2019. Earlier this year, the ISO convened over 2,300 stakeholders to discuss the initiative, aiming to refine the scope and strategic direction of the DPP project. Participants emphasised the importance of covering the entire supply chain, from raw materials to end-of-life management, with essential data points such as conformity certificates, recycled content, hazardous materials, and environmental footprints.
“This initiative is not about creating duplicative or conflicting frameworks but rather fostering exploration, alignment, and harmonization,” UNECE asserted. The overarching ambition of the DPP initiative is to serve as a cornerstone for global interoperability, facilitating seamless data exchange and collaboration across borders and industries.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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