Traceability in Digital Product Passports

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What Is Product Traceability?

Product traceability is the ability to track a product's history, location, and movement through the supply chain using recorded identifications. In the DPP context, traceability connects raw materials to finished products and follows items through distribution, use, and end-of-life processing.

The ESPR leverages Digital Product Passports as traceability tools, requiring that key data about a product's journey is recorded and accessible throughout its lifecycle.

Traceability Dimensions

Effective DPP traceability operates in two directions:

• Upstream traceability (trace-back): tracking from finished product back to raw materials and component origins
• Downstream traceability (trace-forward): tracking from manufacture through distribution to end user and end-of-life

Both dimensions are important for different stakeholders. Regulators use trace-back for compliance verification and recall management. Recyclers use trace-forward information to understand what materials they are processing.

Enabling Technologies

DPP traceability relies on several technology layers: unique product identification (GS1 standards), data carriers (QR codes, NFC tags) for physical-digital linking, data capture at key supply chain events, and secure data storage and sharing platforms.

The combination of these technologies creates a digital thread that connects all information about a product into a coherent, accessible record, the Digital Product Passport.

Implementing Traceability

Start by identifying the critical tracking points in your supply chain, the moments where product identity, status, or custody changes. Implement data capture at these points and link the captured data to your DPP records.

MyProductPassport provides the traceability infrastructure needed for DPP compliance, connecting product identification, supply chain events, and passport data into a complete traceability solution.