Digital Product Passport (DPP) & RAIN RFID: The Winning Duo for Traceability & Circular Economy

Introduction

The world of commerce is evolving, driven by increasingly stringent environmental regulations and growing consumer demand for greater transparency. At the heart of this transformation lies the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a key European initiative. But how does the DPP come to life, and what role does RAIN RFID technology play in its implementation? Let's dive into the subject.

What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a regulatory framework proposed by the European Union aimed at creating increased transparency around the lifecycle of products placed on the EU market. It involves a structured collection of product data with a predefined scope, focusing on information related to sustainability, circularity, and value for reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling.

The main objectives of the DPP are clear:

• Increase transparency regarding a product's environmental impact throughout its lifecycle.
  
  
• Facilitate the repair, recycling, and circularity of products.
  
  
• Enable consumers to make more informed choices based on environmental and social factors.

The DPP is intended to provide access to information such as material composition, origin, repair and disassembly options, and how to manage it at its end-of-life. Access to this data is clearly defined, and the DPP is electronically accessible via a unique identifier and a data carrier (such as a QR code, RFID tag, etc.).

The first DPP regulations are expected to come into force around 2027. Priority industries identified include electronics, batteries, textiles, plastics, construction, and buildings.

In essence, the DPP requirements can be summarized in three key points:

• Collect product information throughout its lifecycle.
  
  
• Store the data digitally (e.g., in the cloud).
  
  
• Provide easy access to data for various stakeholders (e.g., via scannable elements like QR codes, digital links, etc.)

The Data Carrier - Essential Link for the DPP

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) stipulates that the DPP must be linked to the product via a "data carrier" which must be affixed to all covered products. This carrier can take the form a two-dimensional symbol (like a QR code), NFC or RAIN RFID. It is however crucial that the data carrier and supporting systems are interoperable, and so apposed to a standard.

Decathlon's RAIN RFID Choice for DPP

At Decathlon, we firmly believe in using digital technologies to share essential product information. As early as 2009, we chose RAIN RFID, driven by the concept of a uniquely identified product coupled with contactless technology. This technology has become a key element for traceability.

Since 2019, 100% of our products carry a GS1 serialized identifier applied from the point of manufacture. This 100% deployment across our entire value chain constitutes a profitable investment that we wish to leverage to build the most innovative product traceability system. We consider RAIN RFID the preferred data carrier for the DPP.

The Strengths of RAIN RFID for DPP 

RAIN RFID technology, compliant with globally recognized GS1 standards (such as EPC Gen2 UHF RFID and the EPC Tag Data Standard), offers a robust and scalable solution for the DPP with several decisive advantages:

• Unique Identification and Serialization: Every Decathlon product is unique, carrying a unique identification number distinct from the standard model code. This item-level serialization is fundamental for circular economy models and end-of-life management, as each product intrinsically carries all its attributes.
• Lifecycle Traceability: RAIN RFID is a key element for traceability. Decathlon collects events and attributes unique to each product, from manufacturing to recycling, throughout its life. This is crucial for understanding a product's usage (e.g., rentals) and determining if it should be recycled, repaired, or sold as a second-life item.
• Ease and Speed of Reading: RAIN RFID offers flexible read ranges (long and short) regardless of the tag's position on the product. It is also one of the few technologies capable of reading multiple data carriers simultaneously over long distances. This enables diverse use cases such as accurate inventory, locating complex products (e.g., an e-bike to select the DPP for the battery or the bike itself), or sorting products before recycling.
• Durability: The RAIN RFID tag is designed to be durable and readable throughout the product's lifecycle, from manufacturing to recycling. Having a tag present for the product's entire life makes the circular economy possible. Decathlon is actively researching durable tags that remain with the product until its recycling.
• Interoperability: The technology is based on GS1 standards, ensuring interoperability and facilitating data exchange, which is important for the European DPP to be tracked in other countries.
• Circular Economy Support: Beyond operational efficiency, RAIN RFID is a major catalyst for new business models like second-life, rental, subscription, or repair. It accelerates recycling processes through knowledge of raw materials via the tag. Studies show that RAIN RFID technology improves the efficiency of sorting and recycling processes through automated data access. A study on the mechanical recycling of cotton garments shows that the obtained fibers are usable in spinning even with embedded RFID tags. The embedded tag, associated with the digital twin, is an essential solution for the circular economy. Furthermore, a preliminary study indicates the embedded tag has the advantage of a reduced carbon footprint.
• Enhanced Customer Interaction: Serialization via RFID allows for an enriched customer experience. In stores, comparison kiosks equipped with RAIN RFID readers enable customers to easily access product information. In the long term, integrating RAIN RFID reading capabilities into smartphones could strengthen interactivity between customers, products, and their DPPs. The DPP via RFID also supports user and partner touchpoints for repair or second-life.
• Data Privacy: Decathlon is committed to respecting customer data privacy. We advocate that the DPP itself should not contain personal attributes; this information should be managed separately with strict access controls. RAIN RFID offers security features, such as the "Untraceable" command, which can hide part of the tag's memory or reduce its read range, thus contributing to privacy protection. The "Authenticate" command also enhances security.

While RAIN RFID is our primary choice, we recognize the importance of offering alternative means to access DPP information, in line with regulations. This includes access via customer accounts (e-wallets), digital or printed receipts containing a digital copy of the unique identifier, or the use of QR codes (based on GS1 Digital Link standards) for selected products.

Conclusion

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a major step towards greater transparency and circularity. At Decathlon, thanks to our early and widespread adoption of RAIN RFID technology and our commitment to item-level serialization, we are well-positioned to meet the challenges of the DPP.

RAIN RFID is not just a tool for logistical efficiency; it is a central enabler for new circular business models and sustainable practices. By combining the power of RAIN RFID for unique identification and data collection with a decentralized, cloud-based approach for information storage and access, we are building a robust ecosystem for the DPP.

Decathlon continues to actively work with European institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that the DPP is implemented effectively and aligned with sustainability and transparency objectives. We are convinced that the use of RAIN RFID as a data carrier is essential to unlock the full potential of the DPP and accelerate the transition to a more circular economy.