Enable Digital Product Passports with Chemicals Traceability for a Circular Economy (ECHT)
Sustainable product policies under the Green Deal prioritise textiles for new ecodesign requirements and the introduction of a Digital Product Passport (DPP). The measures require stakeholders to have access to detailed product information including material compositions and associated impacts: The traceability of chemicals in materials is an important prerequisite for circular products and business models.
The volatility, complexity and established structures of value chains make it difficult for companies to determine the chemicals contained in their products. This is where the Interreg project ECHT comes in: it shows the opportunities of a coordinated and cross-border implementation of the DPP. Many textile companies are located in NWE, most of them micro (89%) and SMEs. ECHT supports the actors in these value chains to introduce traceability of chemicals and strengthen networks, innovation and competitiveness. To maximise its reach, ECHT is technology-neutral, i.e. not tied to specific IT solutions.
ECHT implements the first traceability strategy with 3 action plans for actors in the textile (1) apparel and (2) flooring value chains and for (3) policy makers at different levels. The action plans are based on findings from innovative training programs (capacity building) and results from the development, testing and dissemination of a knowledge platform to support the textile industry and other sectors "beyond mere compliance" on the way to innovative business models.
ECHT pays particular attention to the value chains for cotton and polyester garments. Both fibers are the most economically important raw materials for the global textile apparel industry: polyester fibers are the most important fiber in 2018, accounting for 63% of total fiber production. Another 25% of total fiber production is accounted for by cotton, the most important natural fiber.
A look at these value chains also includes the post-consumer phases.
PROJECT SPECIFICS
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, GUT e.V., German Environment Agency, Neovili, European Carpets and Rugs Association, H&M Group, Luxembourg Media and Digital Design Centre, Team2, PUMA
Associated Organisations: Blutsgeschwister GmbH, ClientEarth, European Carpets and Rugs Association, Inditex, Ineris, Luxinnovation, Sympany, Techtera, Euratex, Lacoste
Circular Economy: Policy Making for Traceability of Chemicals along Value Chains
Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and German Environment Agency (UBA)
Tuesday, October 15th, 2024
You can find more information under:
Policy Workshop 2024 – Innovations- und Transformationsplattform der h_da (h-da.de)