By Jaqueline Quesada / Translated by Samai Páez

On October 29, Universo MOLA gather experts in sustainability and technology for the "Digital Product Passport" webinar. The event look to drive transparency and trazability in the textile industry through the implementation of the Digital Passport of Product (DPP.) 

Valentina Suárez, director of Universo MOLA, moderated the conversation with both male and female experts in sustainability and technology, such as Catalina Giraldo and Nicole Bañados, representatives of sustainable Value Chains and Circular Metrics, and Andrés Alcalaya, senior researcher of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.

Andrés Alcalaya explained that the DPP positions itself as a key tool to follow the requierments of the European Legislation, as the Ecodesign Directive and the Regulation on information for the consumer regarding sustainability. Through the DPP, according to Alcalaya, brands can improve communication with their consumers by providing them clear and precise information about garment's origin, materials and their environmental impact.

Catalina Giraldo, on the other hand, exposed Circular Metrics as a solution for data managment and trazability in the creation of the DPP This tool alows brands to create product sheets with detailed information about the materials, production procecess, certifications and the environmental, social and economic impact of garments, Giraldo explained. In addition, she said that Circular Metrics are key to manage risks related to greenwashing and helps the compliance of regulations about transparency and sustainability. greenwashing (impostura verde) y facilita el cumplimiento de las regulaciones sobre transparencia y sostenibilidad.

Nicole Bañados delved into the concept of "ecodesign" and its importance for circularity in the textile industry. She highlighted the experience of Chile with the Responsabilidad Extendida del Productor (Extended Producer Responsibility) law that encourages the recycling and reuse of textiles She also mentioned Peru's progress in the implementation of a textile waste managmente system and Colombia's efforts in the creation of a national plan for the circular economy. "Latin America has a great opportunity to lead the implementation of the DPP and move towards a more sustainable textile industry," she said.

In the webinar, the results of a pilot carried out with brands from the region were presented, including Laura Añez and Domei, both part of MOLA Hub. This pilot, which focused on the design and production phases, identified gaps and opportunities in the implementation of the DPP in Latin America, such as the need to standardize information about materials and processes, in addition to strengthen collaboration between those involved in the value chain. 

For a successful implementation, the importance of collaboration between brands, suppliers, governments and consumers was highlighted. In addition, during the webinar, the launch of the first version of the Digital Product Passport Guide was announced, a resource that will help brands understand and implement this tool.

The "Digital Product Passport" webinar generated a space for dialogue and collaboration to drive the adoption of the DPP in Latin America. The recording of the event is available on Universo Mola's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h_UEeOfQNk&t=2078s&ab_channel=UniversoMOLA