As concerns about carbon emissions grow, individuals and businesses become increasingly conscientious about their environmental impact. Recognizing this trend, DeStore is embracing the emergence of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) as a vital tool for certifying products as sustainable or scalable, particularly in light of the alarming number of discarded mattresses — estimated at around 30 million annually across Europe alone.
Each year, Europe witnesses millions of mattresses reaching the end of their useful life, with the majority meeting a fate in landfills or incineration, significantly contributing to carbon emissions.
Top producers of bedding companies produce 1 million + mattresses per year. By predominantly utilizing pure polyester covers, which are recyclable compared to mixed materials, the Bedding industry is actively seeking to reduce waste.
There’s a noticeable uptick in initiatives focused on dismantling and recycling mattresses,” observes a proponent for lower carbon emissions.
However, comprehensive information about mattress composition is imperative for these efforts to succeed. This is precisely where the digital product passport comes into play!
DPPs are being rolled out across the EU to bolster sustainability endeavors. They compile crucial data about a product’s environmental impact, materials, production process, and journey.
Beginning in 2027, DPPs will become mandatory for industrial and electric vehicle batteries, with textiles and other sectors expected to follow suit by 2030.
Leveraging DeStore’s technology of verifiable asset tagging, information about these mattresses and other products is seamlessly transmitted to recycling facilities and European commissions for proper documentation. Complete with attestation and verifiable tagging, this process ensures responsible disposal and acknowledges recyclers’ contributions.
Experts from top universities believe better-informed consumers can drive manufacturers and distributors to prioritize sustainability. This will catalyze eco-design initiatives, recognizing that 80% of environmental impact is determined during product design.
Various industry consortiums are collaboratively establishing standards for DPPs, emphasizing cooperation across supply chains and competitors.
The aim is to tag one million mattresses by 2027, with digital product passports set to debut this year. These passports will be affixed to mattresses via QR codes, allowing consumers to access details about origin, composition, warranty, and care instructions. Meanwhile, RFID tags embedded within mattresses will enable recyclers to access passport data, strengthening proper disposal efforts conveniently.
However, concerns arise about the security of such methods, as QR codes can be manipulated, and RFID tags can be scanned using various triangulation methods. DeStore addresses these challenges by ensuring data integrity through verifiable asset tagging, which is essential for reducing carbon emissions through recycling initiatives.
Manufacturers often source raw materials from multiple suppliers, so items that appear identical may have differing carbon footprints. DPPs mitigate this disparity by accurately reflecting nuanced differences in product data.
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will hold companies accountable for the accuracy of reported data, including claims on digital product passports. This underscores the importance of DeStore’s role in offering attestation for reliable information obtained through meticulous mitigation efforts. “Let’s pave the way for a sustainable future!”
