Swiss technology firm The Hashgraph Group has introduced a new blockchain-based platform aimed at helping companies prepare for the European Union’s upcoming Digital Product Passport requirements. The solution, called TrackTrace, is built on the Hedera network and is designed to improve supply chain transparency as stricter sustainability regulations come into force across the bloc.

The launch comes as businesses across Europe and beyond gear up for sweeping compliance changes tied to the EU’s environmental and climate goals.

Preparing for the EU’s Digital Product Passport Era

TrackTrace enters the market in response to the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, which came into effect in July 2024. The regulation lays the groundwork for Digital Product Passports, a framework that will require companies to record and share detailed product data across supply chains.

Under these rules, certain products sold in the EU will need a standardized digital record containing key information such as sustainability credentials, durability metrics and reparability data. One of the earliest and most significant milestones will be the battery passport requirement under the EU Battery Regulation. Starting Feb. 18, 2027, electric vehicle and industrial batteries above 2 kilowatt-hours will be required to carry a digital passport.

From July 2027 onward, similar requirements will expand to textiles, apparel, iron, steel and other priority categories. Companies targeting EU markets will need systems capable of capturing and verifying large volumes of product-specific information.

TrackTrace aims to fill that gap by creating verifiable audit trails for product data and enabling compliance reporting aligned with the Digital Product Passport framework.

A Blockchain Layer for Supply Chain Trust

According to The Hashgraph Group, TrackTrace records product data, including emissions-related information, in a way that supports authenticity checks and regulatory reporting. By anchoring records on Hedera’s distributed ledger, the platform provides tamper-resistant documentation across a product’s lifecycle.

The company says the system links physical events such as manufacturing steps, transport updates and sustainability certifications with digital records stored on-chain. This approach is intended to reduce disputes, strengthen traceability and give regulators confidence in the accuracy of submitted information.

TrackTrace also incorporates agentic artificial intelligence tools to automate certain compliance workflows. These tools can help businesses collect, process and structure the data required under the new EU framework, potentially reducing administrative burden.

Stefan Deiss, co-founder and CEO of The Hashgraph Group, said the European Green Deal’s ambition to create a climate-neutral continent by 2050 will require reliable digital infrastructure. He noted that platforms like TrackTrace are designed to serve as a trusted data layer for companies navigating the transition toward more sustainable and transparent operations.

Tied to Europe’s Climate Goals

The Digital Product Passport initiative forms part of the EU’s broader environmental strategy under the Green Deal. The bloc has set a target of cutting emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050 under the European Climate Act.

To meet those goals, regulators are demanding greater visibility into how products are made, transported, used and recycled. That means businesses must gather detailed environmental data not only from their own operations but also from suppliers and partners across global value chains.

Digital passports are expected to play a central role in that shift. By standardizing how product information is recorded and shared, the EU hopes to encourage circular economy practices, improve recycling rates and reduce resource waste.

For companies exporting into the EU, compliance will not be optional. Platforms that provide reliable traceability and verified data trails are likely to become essential components of cross-border trade.

Built on Hedera’s Governance Model

TrackTrace relies on Hedera’s distributed ledger infrastructure. Hedera promotes itself as an energy-efficient DLT platform governed by a council of global organizations. Members of the Hedera Governing Council include major corporations such as Google, IBM, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, EDF, FedEx, Hitachi, Mondelēz International and Standard Bank, among others.

By anchoring compliance data to a network overseen by established enterprises, The Hashgraph Group is positioning TrackTrace as a solution suited for large-scale industrial use.

The company also confirmed it is collaborating with PwC on Digital Product Passport implementations for enterprise clients. The partnership signals a push toward integrating blockchain-based compliance tools into mainstream corporate reporting systems.

Growing Competition in Digital Traceability

TrackTrace enters a competitive field. Other blockchain-based and digital traceability solutions are already targeting supply chain transparency across sectors.

These include IBM’s supply chain offerings, as well as platforms such as Circular for batteries and plastics and TrusTrace for fashion and textile traceability. As EU rules tighten, demand for reliable data infrastructure is expected to rise, particularly in industries facing early compliance deadlines.

For now, The Hashgraph Group is betting that combining distributed ledger technology, decentralized identity tools and automated compliance features will give TrackTrace an edge in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

With the first major Digital Product Passport requirements set to apply in early 2027, the race to build trusted supply chain systems is already underway.