Consumers are driving the change for better transparency when it comes to the products they purchase. Whether it’s a brand-new product or a “pre-loved” item, consumers want to know more about the history of the things they own.
The drive toward circularity is forcing manufacturers and retailers to provide more information about their products, starting with manufacturing. However, ensuring the quality and authenticity of pre-loved products can be challenging. This is where the digital product passport (DPP) comes in as an innovative solution that tracks the lifecycle of pre-loved products.
Let’s dive into what DPP is and its benefits for both manufacturers and consumers.
What Is a Digital Product Passport?
A digital product passport is the most comprehensive way for manufacturers to collect and store product data in one place. This digital record saves a product’s history from production to recycling. Real-time tracking and data collection are possible using technologies such as RFID, NFC, and QR.
Some of the data that can be stored on a DPP include:
- Material sourcing information
- Where it was manufactured
- The supply chain journey
- Sustainability information
- Recycled content
- Performance and maintenance
- Care instructions
- Warranty information
- Product history, including previous ownership
- Disposal, return, or exchange details
A reliable DPP helps significantly reduce waste, a growing requirement for modern circularity practices. By tracking products throughout their lifecycle, manufacturers can gain insight into designing more sustainable products, optimizing production processes, and creating more efficient recycling processes. This data-driven process helps minimize waste and promotes a circular economy.
Why Product Tracking Is Important
Product tracking benefits both manufacturers and consumers by keeping them on the same page throughout the product life cycle. A reliable DPP can help manufacturers guarantee their products remain up to their standards while demonstrating their dedication to sustainability.
One of the biggest benefits of using a DPP is transparency among consumers. When an organization leverages an in-depth DPP, consumers could scan their garments to learn why previous owners returned them — whether it was a faulty product or they simply had no use for it anymore. The DPP could also improve quality control by recording when items present defects or other quality issues and then tracing them back to the source.
Accessing the product history of pre-owned items could allow consumers to make better-informed buying decisions because they will know exactly what they are getting. This level of engagement increases brand loyalty by encouraging customers to share their experiences.
How to Leverage the Digital Product Passport to Track Pre-Loved Products
The digital product passport isn’t only for brand-new products; the journey of pre-loved products can also be tracked. DPP usage can allow manufacturers and brands to verify the authenticity of second-hand items to ensure quality and value. They can also track the refurbished or pre-owned products to validate safety, quality, and performance.
Brands can further leverage this technology to familiarize more customers with their brand. In addition to showcasing their commitment to circularity, brands can also include information about who they are to provide a more personable experience for consumers who make more calculated purchases.
DPP development is ongoing and the bounds of what DPPs can do is expanding quickly. While some DPP inclusions are becoming a must for manufacturers, others are less regulated and come with expenses that economic operators may initially avoid due to cost.
Create Your Own Digital Product Passport with Charming Trim
At Charming Trim, we believe in delivering an unforgettable customer experience. Charming.Digi, powered by TAPPR, is a SaaS platform that allows brands to create a digital product passport that shares information on sustainability while providing a fun way to interact with their favorite brands.
Our DPP digital passport utilizes QR codes and NFC tags to create a user-friendly interactive ID that provides consumers with all of the information they need about their products. From meeting circularity requirements to sharing care instructions, our tailor-made DPP is the solution for you.
Request a demo to learn more about Charming.Digi. We’re here to help make your garments compliant-ready.
