PRODUCT DATA TRACEABILITY FROM CRADLE TO CRADLE BY BLOCKCHAINS INTEROPERABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY SERVICE MARKETPLACE

Project Information

TRICK

Grant agreement ID: 958352

DOI

10.3030/958352

Project closed

EC signature date 25 May 2021

Start date 1 May 2021

End date 31 October 2024

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost

€ 9 600 448,50

EU contribution

€ 7 997 853,75

Coordinated by

FRATELLI PIACENZA S.P.A.
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - TRICK (PRODUCT DATA TRACEABILITY FROM CRADLE TO CRADLE BY BLOCKCHAINS INTEROPERABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY SERVICE MARKETPLACE)

Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2024-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The activities of the project are based on 5 specific objectives.
Per each the main achievment are summarised.

1) Develop a roadmap for traceability and transparency in circular industries (OBJ1):
- Achieved during the first reporting period, with the creation of a structured framework for integrating traceability practices into circular production systems.
- Provided clear guidance for industries to transition toward sustainability by mapping data collection and sharing requirements.

2) Standardize services and enable data sharing for traceability and transparency (OBJ2):
- Accomplished by delivering a robust platform that integrates standardized data models and processes compliant with EU regulatory frameworks.
- Successfully demonstrated the application of digital tools for real-time data sharing, reducing compliance costs for SMEs.

3) Establish a traceability framework with interoperable blockchain solutions (OBJ3):
- Finalized in the third reporting period, this objective ensured seamless data portability and secure data management across different blockchain systems.
- Introduced smart contracts and AI-based tools for anti-counterfeiting and data validation, enhancing the reliability of shared information.

4) Launch a B2B marketplace to support third-party solutions for traceability (OBJ4):
- Created an ecosystem where SMEs can access affordable tools and services for compliance and sustainability.
- Enabled third-party certification solutions for traceability, circularity, PEF, and more, fostering a dynamic and inclusive marketplace.

5) Demonstrate the universality of TRICK's solution for traceability and transparency across industries (OBJ5):
- Successfully implemented pilots in the textile-clothing sector and replicated key features in the food industry, demonstrating the platform’s adaptability and scalability.
- Validated the platform’s effectiveness in addressing sector-specific challenges, such as integrating recycled materials in textiles and reducing food waste.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Activities carried out:
- Development of the TRICK Platform (WP1-WP4)
- Pilot Demonstrations and Evaluation (WP5)
- Exploitation and Market Readiness (WP6)
- Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement (WP7)
- Management and Coordination (WP8)

Main Results:
a) Traditional Textiles:
- Highlighted the potential and feasibility of circular design practices: with current technology up to max 20% recycled fibers is feasible without significant quality loss.
- Scarcity of revcled fibers of proven origin, comliance and composition reliabilty is a critical problem for th edoption of circular practices.
- Address the challenge of the trade off between the increase of circular fibres and the decrease of durability and quality, with negative PEF reults through the whole process.
- Comparison of PEF between the production by virgin materials and the one by partially recucled ones, highlighting the weight of the impact of each potential action in the value chain by sensitivy analysis.
- Identified technological limitations in recycling processes, necessitating investment in advanced techniques to increase recycled content while maintaining durability.

b) Technical Textiles (in additon to the ones of traditional textiles):
- Addressed challenges in maintaining performance requirements while using recycled materials.
- Showcased the need for modular designs and disassembly-friendly features to facilitate recycling in technical garments.
- Comparison of PEF between the production by virgin materials and the one by partially recucled ones, highlighting the weight of the impact of each potential action in the value chain by sensitivy analysis.

c) Food Pilot
- Traceability and Waste Reduction.
- Demonstrated the use of IoT devices and blockchain to enhance data reliability and reduce food waste by optimizing supply chain management.
- Highlighted the potential for extending TRICK’s logic to other food value chains, such as biogas production from organic waste.
- Data Management and Transparency

For all pilots, by Blockchain Integration the platform secured traceability by integrating PCO data with bills of materials, ensuring transparency across the lifecycle of products.
BC also enhanced data reliability using AI and smart contracts for secure, privacy-preserving operations.
Consumer Engagement has been investigated too, by eveloping tools to provide consumers with simple, understandable information on environmental impacts, fostering informed purchasing decisions.

The TRICK project directly contributes to shaping EU policies by::
- Supporting the implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
- Aligning with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
- Addressing gaps in current EU regulations, such as enforceable standards for recycling and data automation, to enhance industry adoption of circular practices.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The TRICK project has made significant advancements in traceability, circularity, and sustainability, pushing the boundaries of existing practices:

1. Innovative Data Management: TRICK introduced a blockchain-based traceability system that combines smart contracts and AI to ensure data integrity, privacy, and interoperability, addressing greenwashing and fraudulent declarations. Its enriched event model enables end-to-end product tracking, aligning with the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements.

2. Circular Economy Practices: The project demonstrated the feasibility of integrating recycled materials into textiles, establishing an optimal threshold of 20% recycled content without compromising quality. Modular designs for technical textiles were developed to facilitate disassembly and recycling, addressing current gaps in EU recycling technologies.

3. Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Studies: Detailed lifecycle assessments comparing virgin and recycled fiber products refined EU PEF guidelines and enhanced environmental reporting. Automated tools for impact assessments make compliance accessible for SMEs.

4. B2B Marketplace: TRICK created a scalable marketplace offering SMEs affordable access to services like traceability, circularity assessments, PEF evaluations, and anti-counterfeiting tools.

Potential Impacts: the TRICK project successfully delivered a universal, scalable solution for traceability and transparency, achieving its objectives and providing a robust platform for industries transitioning to sustainable and circular production systems. Its findings highlight the importance of data standardization, blockchain integration, and consumer engagement in achieving EU environmental and economic goals. TRICK sets a foundation for future advancements, emphasizing the need for continued investment in recycling technologies, regulatory frameworks, and industry collaboration.

Relations among TRICK objectives, work plan, and outputs-enablers