IOTA and Digimarc Transform Plastic Waste with Digital Product Passports

IOTA
Foundation,
in
collaboration
with
Digimarc,
has
introduced
Digital
Product
Passports
(DPPs)
to
track
and
trace
the
recycling
of
plastic
waste
into
bioplastics,
according
to

IOTA
Foundation.
This
initiative
aims
to
foster
transparency
and
support
a
circular
economy
by
meticulously
documenting
the
lifecycle
of
plastic
waste.

IOTA
Tech
Boosts
Circular
Economy

In
a
significant
step
towards
enhancing
the
circular
economy,
IOTA
Foundation
and
Digimarc
are
leveraging
distributed
ledger
technology
(DLT)
to
monitor
the
recycling
journey
of
plastics.
The
project
focuses
on
converting
farm
plastic
waste
into
bioplastics
used
in
consumer
products,
ensuring
both
business-to-business
(B2B)
and
business-to-consumer
(B2C)
verification.

Plastic
mulch
film,
widely
used
in
modern
agriculture
for
weed
suppression
and
water
conservation,
often
ends
up
in
landfills,
posing
environmental
challenges.
Recycling
these
plastics
into
biodegradable
products,
however,
is
complex
and
costly.
According
to
the
OECD,
only
9%
of
plastic
waste
is
recycled,
with
22%
being
mismanaged.
This
underscores
the
need
for
a
reliable
system
to
trace
plastic
waste
through
its
recycling
process.

Introducing
Digital
Product
Passports

The
Digital
Product
Passport
(DPP)
for
Plastics
prototype
solution
provides
comprehensive
data
on
the
lifecycle
of
plastic
waste,
from
its
disposal
to
its
transformation
into
new
products.
This
data
is
recorded
using
the
GS1
EPCIS
2.0
standard
and
stored
on
the
IOTA
ledger,
ensuring
verifiable
claims
about
product
provenance.

Chain
of
Events
Leading
to
the
DPP
for
Plastics

The
DPP
solution
involves
several
stages,
starting
with
the
waste
production
stage,
where
farms
use
plastic
mulching
films
for
crop
protection.
After
harvest,
the
used
plastic
is
collected,
and
its
data
is
recorded
on
the
IOTA
ledger.
The
waste
is
then
picked
up
by
an
authorized
waste
manager,
who
tracks
its
journey
to
the
recycling
facility.

At
the
recycling
stage,
the
plastic
waste
is
processed
into
new
raw
materials.
These
materials
are
then
supplied
to
manufacturers
who
transform
them
into
new
products,
such
as
eco-friendly
packaging.
Each
product
is
assigned
a
unique
DPP,
documenting
the
entire
supply
chain
journey.

Ensuring
Trust
and
Transparency

Throughout
the
process,
the
EBSI
Trust
Framework
verifies
the
identities
and
relationships
of
all
actors
involved.
Using
GS1
EPCIS
2.0
standards,
supply
chain
events
are
captured
and
recorded,
with
each
product
assigned
a
GS1
Digital
Link.
This
link,
accessible
via
a
QR
code,
provides
transparency
and
allows
consumers
to
verify
the
product’s
provenance
and
sustainability.

This
system
ensures
that
every
party,
from
the
waste
producer
to
the
auditor,
plays
a
crucial
role
in
maintaining
transparency
and
traceability
in
the
lifecycle
of
agricultural
plastics,
supporting
a
robust
circular
economy.

Conclusion

By
leveraging
blockchain
technology,
IOTA
and
Digimarc’s
DPP
solution
prototype
for
plastics
ensures
transparency
and
integrity
in
the
lifecycle
of
agricultural
plastics.
This
initiative
not
only
promotes
a
circular
economy
but
also
provides
valuable
insights
for
businesses
and
consumers,
enhancing
sustainability
and
reducing
environmental
impact.

Image
source:
Shutterstock