UNTP is a Protocol, Not a Platform

The UNTP is not another IT system. UNTP Recommendation 49 defines standards and protocols to connect IT systems together. This means leaving data where it is but making it available to be linked together when needed. (Needed for what? For example, to communicate about a product for export, share necessary information along a supply chain, communicate sustainability credentials to gain market access, or comply with regulatory requirements.)

In the diagram below, the blue dots represent islands of information that need to be connected to provide visibility along specific supply chains. For instance:

• A simplified lithium mine-to-electric-vehicle supply chain: Cobalt from Africa, lithium from Australia, through China-based battery manufacturing to an electric vehicle in Europe.
• A supply chain for a cotton T-shirt through Asian economies ending up in Europe.

The key takeaway: There will be thousands of platforms, millions of value chains, and billions of transactions.

UNTP is not a platform. It is a traceability and transparency protocol designed to accommodate this complexity and scale.

It Isn’t Necessary to Share All Your Data

At the heart of UNTP Recommendation 49 is the concept of a simple business-to-business Digital Product Passport containing just enough information for the next step in the supply chain.

“Just enough” is a crucial distinction. There is a clear difference between an organization’s rich and largely confidential datasets and the minimum information required to attest to, for example, scope 3 emissions to inform the next step in the supply chain.

The Digital Product Passport operates at the shipment level and links to the products within that shipment.

Linking Trust to Sustainability Claims

Making sustainability claims in a Digital Product Passport is one thing, but how do we establish trust in those claims?

Confidential business data is often audited by a competent authority or certifying body. The result is an independent assessment of conformity to specific criteria—such as EU deforestation regulation or carbon intensity—without revealing sensitive data.

Trust is established by linking Digital Product Passport claims to digital credentials from a trusted third party (e.g., regulators, auditors, industry bodies). These credentials confirm compliance without exposing underlying data.

There’s No Centralized Database

UNTP is designed for end-to-end traceability. It is a decentralized protocol that must function across thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of supply chain nodes. Without a central database, where does the information reside, and how do we create an end-to-end traceability picture?

The answer: through simple traceability events. A well-established standard, EPCIS, provides a framework for this.

By linking traceability events and conformity credentials to the Digital Product Passport, we create a system with just enough data for the next supply chain step. This allows ESG claims to be assessed while maintaining data integrity and trust.

Data Is Connected to the Product, Not Shared Between Systems

Critically, the minimum data set is not directly shared between two parties' systems. The Digital Product Passport—and its associated data—is linked to the physical shipped product.

Upon receiving a product and scanning its barcode or QR code, the next party in the supply chain (importer, supplier, brand, buyer, regulator, etc.) can access relevant data via a URL. Even one-dimensional barcodes can be resolved to an identifier that directs to ESG information.

This method ensures that data remains accessible and understandable regardless of the recipient's technical maturity—whether manually scanned, clicked through by a human, or processed by a machine.

Trials Are Underway, and the Technology Costs Are Negligible

While this may seem complex, pilots are already underway worldwide—including one in Australia—where multiple technology providers have implemented the protocol within weeks. Generally, they have made it available as part of regular product updates, making the cost of compliance virtually zero.

This Is Not Being Invented from the Ground Up

Rather than reinventing the wheel, UNTP strategically leverages existing, proven technologies and processes:

• Uses W3C Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) for tamper-proof, privacy-preserving credentials.
• Adopts the GS1 EPCIS standard for digital traceability events.
• Builds on existing identification schemes like LEI, GLN, and GTIN for discoverable, resolvable, and verifiable products.
• Links product sustainability claims to third-party assessments via Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and Digital Conformity Credentials (DCCs).
• Integrates Digital Identity Anchors (DIAs) and Identity Resolvers (IDRs) to connect claims to trusted authorities.

By leveraging existing identifiers and standards, UNTP enables organizations to capitalize on investments in barcodes, RFID tags, and other product identification methods.

IFRS, which has long set global financial reporting standards, is now publishing sustainability standards—though at the entity level rather than the product or shipment level.

However, a Digital Product Passport linking ESG information to a shipment is akin to a financial transaction. Just as financial transactions aggregate into balance sheets and P&L statements, Digital Product Passports aggregate to provide corporate sustainability insights.

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