IOTA, a distributed ledger technology (DLT) company, is making strides in the fight against plastic pollution by developing a novel tracking system for recycled plastics. This system, built in collaboration with Digimarc, a leader in digital watermarking solutions, aims to promote a circular economy for plastics in the agricultural sector.
The current state of plastic waste management is dire. Plastic mulch film, widely used in agriculture for weed suppression and water conservation, often ends up in landfills or pollutes the environment after use. Recycling offers a solution, but the process is complex and lacks transparency. According to the OECD, only 9% of plastic waste gets recycled, highlighting the need for a robust tracking mechanism.
This is where IOTA’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) for Plastics comes in. The DPP acts as a digital record that meticulously documents the lifecycle of plastic waste, from its origins on farms to its transformation into new bioplastic products. This transparency fosters trust within the supply chain and empowers consumers to make informed choices.
How the DPP Works
The DPP system utilizes several key components:
- Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs): Every participant in the system, from farms to manufacturers, has a unique DID on the IOTA Tangle, a secure and scalable distributed ledger.
- GS1 EPCIS 2.0 Standards: These standards ensure consistent capture and recording of supply chain events like shipping and processing.
- Digital Link: Each product receives a GS1 Digital Link, typically embedded as a QR code, providing easy access to its DPP via a web interface.
The Journey of a Plastic Mulch Film
Here’s how the DPP tracks a plastic mulch film’s journey:
- Waste Production: A farm using plastic mulch film for crop protection logs its usage details on the IOTA Tangle. This data includes the type and date of use, establishing the origin and composition of the waste.
- Waste Management: An authorized waste manager collects the used plastic, recording the collection details and its journey to the recycling facility.
- Recycling Stage: At the authorized recycling facility, the plastic undergoes treatment for conversion into new raw materials. The recycler logs details of the process, ensuring transparency.
- Manufacturing Stage: The recycled materials are then used by manufacturers to create new bioplastic products, such as eco-friendly packaging or bio-mulch film. Each product receives a DPP linked to all previous stages through Digimarc’s Illuminate platform. This ensures verification of the raw materials’ sustainability claims.
- Quality Assurance: Third-party quality assurers can certify parts of the process and product specifications, further adding credibility.
- Consumer Interaction: When a buyer, like another farm, purchases the bioplastic mulch film, they can scan a QR code to access the DPP. This allows them to verify the product’s provenance and sustainability claims, building trust with their own customers.
- Auditing: Auditors can also access the DPP data to verify compliance with regulations, identify potential improvements, and prevent fraud.
Benefits of the DPP System
- Enhanced Transparency: The DPP provides a transparent view of the entire plastic recycling process, fostering trust among stakeholders.
- Improved Traceability: Every step of the journey is documented on the IOTA Tangle, ensuring complete traceability of the plastic waste.
- Circular Economy Support: The DPP promotes a circular economy by encouraging the reuse of plastics in new products.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: By promoting responsible plastic recycling, the system helps to minimize plastic pollution.
- Valuable Insights: Businesses and consumers gain valuable insights into the sustainability practices of the supply chain.
Beyond Plastic Waste
While initially focused on plastic waste in agriculture, IOTA’s DPP technology has broader applications. The company is already working on adapting the DPP for tracking the lifecycle of electronics, with the “Eviden Digital Passport Solution” being the first market-ready example. This solution can track physical and virtual products across various industries, promoting responsible resource management and transparency throughout supply chains.
IOTA’s DPP system represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future. By leveraging blockchain technology, the system empowers businesses and consumers to make informed choices and promotes responsible plastic waste management. This not only benefits the environment but also creates a more robust and transparent circular economy for various resources.
